Uganda–Vietnam Relations Enter a New Chapter of Strategic Economic Cooperation

Uganda and Vietnam strengthened their longstanding bilateral relationship through economic diplomacy when the Pearl of Africa Business Forum – Vietnam Chapter brought together more than 300 government officials, business leaders, investors, researchers and development partners in Hanoi. The forum provided a platform to translate Uganda–Vietnam political relations into practical cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, agro-processing, ICT, tourism, energy, minerals, oil and gas, and manufacturing.

Forum figures indicated that bilateral trade had risen from US$28.6 million in 2024 to US$53.4 million in 2025, while broader annual trade figures presented during the engagement put total trade at approximately US$95.47 million, comprising US$49.85 million in Ugandan exports to Vietnam and US$45.62 million in imports. The figures underscored growing commercial links while also highlighting the considerable space for further expansion. Vietnamese investment in Uganda was estimated at approximately US$40 million, with projects including Ba Dinh JSC’s US$35 million gold exploration investment and ATAD Steel’s construction-related investment of about US$500,000, alongside other Vietnamese business interests already operating in Uganda.

H.E. Le Anh Tuan the Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, observed that the economic relationship had not yet reached its full potential and called on both countries to leverage their strong political ties for substantive economic cooperation. He emphasised Vietnam’s interest in building an “equal, trustworthy, sharing, and mutually beneficial partnership” with Uganda. For Uganda, the engagement formed part of the country’s broader Economic and Commercial Diplomacy agenda, seeking to attract investment, promote value addition, expand exports and position Uganda as a gateway to the wider East African and African Continental Free Trade Area markets.

Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, emphasised that Uganda’s engagement with Vietnam was intended to move beyond dialogue towards practical partnerships, technology transfer and shared prosperity. He stressed that signed agreements would ultimately be measured by their impact on producers and businesses, noting that an MOU would have little meaning if it did not translate into better opportunities and returns for farmers. A significant outcome was the signing of a Collaboration Agreement on Coffee Value Chain Development, providing a framework for cooperation in one of Uganda’s most important export sectors. Discussions also advanced opportunities in agricultural mechanisation, agro-processing, livestock, fisheries, cold-chain systems, research and technology adaptation.

Uganda and Vietnam further identified ICT cooperation as an emerging frontier, with both sides agreeing to develop two practical pilot proposals within 90 days, including areas such as digital payments, agricultural traceability and business-process outsourcing. H.E. Betty Oyella Bigombe, Uganda’s High Commissioner to Thailand presented Uganda as an investment destination and regional gateway, encouraging Vietnamese enterprises to “invest in Uganda, produce in Uganda and use Uganda as a gateway to Africa.” She highlighted opportunities arising from Uganda’s young population, natural resources, agricultural potential and access to regional markets.

The business community also called for sustained engagement beyond the forum. Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), described the gathering as an opportunity not merely to exchange information but to facilitate business matching, identify concrete areas of cooperation and establish partnerships capable of generating tangible results. Tourism and cultural diplomacy formed another dimension of the engagement. Uganda Tourism Board CEO Juliana Kaggwa positioned Uganda through the message “Explore Uganda,” highlighting the country’s wildlife, mountain gorillas, the Nile, the Rwenzori Mountains, adventure tourism and rich biodiversity. The forum therefore represented more than a business gathering. It demonstrated how public diplomacy, economic diplomacy and private-sector engagement could work together to convert political goodwill into investment, technology partnerships, jobs, exports and value addition.

With the coffee collaboration agreement signed, ICT pilots identified, business-to-business linkages strengthened and further investment opportunities placed on the table, the Hanoi engagement marked another step in Uganda’s efforts to build a more productive, diversified and commercially meaningful partnership with Vietnam. For Uganda and Vietnam, the message from Hanoi was clear: the next chapter of bilateral relations would be measured not only by the strength of diplomatic ties, but by the partnerships, investments and opportunities those ties created.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of High Commission of the Republic of Uganda in Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia.