In brief
Uganda’s government highlighted its participation in China’s Canton Fair as a catalyst for increased local processing and packaging of agricultural goods. The strategy intends to keep a larger share of export earnings in Uganda, generate employment, and lift farmers’ incomes. With ten Ugandan exhibitors—covering coffee, shea butter, and crafts—the country hopes to strengthen its value chain.
In Kampala, Uganda’s government announced its focus on the China Import and Export Fair as a means to increase domestic value addition for the country’s agricultural and other products. The announcement came following the fair’s conclusion in Guangzhou on 8 November 2026, a biannual event that draws buyers and sellers worldwide.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued late on Sunday, Uganda’s participation in the fair was aimed at translating access to the Chinese market into increased local processing and packaging. The ministry said this shift could help retain more export earnings, create jobs at home, and improve incomes for farmers and cooperatives.
In a statement, Judyth Nsababera, head of Uganda’s Consulate in Guangzhou, noted that the country was seeking to retain more value domestically rather than exporting raw materials and importing finished products.
Our participation was more than exhibiting products. It was about value addition, value retention, and prosperity along the value chain, from farmer to buyer.
Ms. Nsababera added that the objective was to increase the share of export earnings that stayed within Uganda’s borders.
Uganda sent ten exhibitors to this year’s fair, including five coffee companies, two shea butter producers, and three craft businesses. The exhibitors hope to showcase processed and packaged goods to Chinese buyers, thereby encouraging local processing industries.
The government says that by fostering local processing, Uganda can move beyond exporting raw agricultural commodities. The strategy is expected to create jobs in manufacturing, packaging, and logistics, and to tighten the supply chain from local farms to international markets.
Farmers’ cooperatives stand to benefit from higher income levels as they gain direct access to export markets that pay premium prices for processed goods. By keeping value-added processes within the country, farmers are likely to see improved purchasing power and better market stability.
Uganda’s government believes that engagement in the Canton Fair will help raise the integrity of its exports, encouraging Chinese buyers to demand higher quality and more reliable products, which, in turn, will fuel the domestic processing sector.
While the emphasis lies on agricultural products, the fair’s broader role includes trade policy dialogues, market research, and networking opportunities that may further expand Uganda’s export reach in the coming years.
