Uganda and Vietnam have moved to deepen trade and investment ties after the Pearl of Africa Business Forum – Vietnam Chapter closed in Hanoi on August 12, 2026.
The forum brought together government officials, private sector players and investors from both countries. Uganda’s High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, which is accredited to Vietnam, organised the meeting with government agencies and business groups.
Officials said the talks focused on turning more than 50 years of diplomatic relations into stronger commercial partnerships.
Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Le Anh Tuan, said bilateral trade rose from $28.6 million in 2024 to $53.4 million in 2025.
Other official figures presented during the forum put total trade between the two countries at $95.47 million in 2025.
Uganda exported goods worth $49.85 million, led by coffee, cotton and meat. Imports from Vietnam stood at $45.62 million and included animal feeds, cement clinker, electronics, clothes and footwear.
The figures gave Uganda a trade surplus.
Officials said the African Continental Free Trade Area also offers Vietnamese companies access to a wider regional market through Uganda.
During the forum, Vietnamese buyers expressed interest in steady supplies of Ugandan coffee and leather. Manufacturers also explored using Uganda as a distribution point for Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Vietnamese foreign direct investment in Uganda currently stands at about $40 million.
Ba Dinh JSC has committed $35 million to gold exploration, while ATAD Steel has invested about $500,000 in construction.
Other investors showed interest in agro-processing, manufacturing, minerals, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy and tourism.
Discussions led by the Uganda Investment Authority and Private Sector Foundation Uganda also covered land availability, electricity costs, skilled labour and the time required to establish factories.
“Vietnam is not looking for aid. We are looking for partners to build with. Uganda offers the market and the resources. We bring technology and experience,” Tuan said.
Technology also featured prominently in the discussions.
Ugandan and Vietnamese companies explored digital payments for cross-border trade, technology to improve coffee traceability and a business process outsourcing project that could employ Ugandan graduates to support Vietnamese companies.
Agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze said the two countries should build digital systems that retain more value in their economies.
“Our farmers are already on their phones. Our youth are already online. Let’s build the platforms here so the value stays here, in Kampala and in Hanoi,” Tumwebaze said.
Both sides agreed to develop two pilot proposals within 90 days.
More than 300 people attended the forum, including government officials, business leaders and members of the Ugandan community in Asia.
Uganda and Vietnam also signed a collaboration agreement on coffee value chain development. The agreement followed a technical visit earlier in the year.
Tumwebaze said the success of such agreements should be measured by their impact on farmers.
“An MOU means nothing if a farmer doesn’t see a better price next season. That is the test,” he said.
Uganda’s High Commissioner to Kuala Lumpur, Betty Oyella Bigombe, said the meeting was intended to produce investment, jobs and exports rather than diplomatic declarations.
“We did not come to Hanoi to make speeches. We came to find partners. Uganda brings the land, the people and the market. Vietnam brings the skills and the speed. Together, that means factories, jobs and exports. That is the new era,” Bigombe said.
She added: “If we strengthen bilateral relations and economic diplomacy with Việt Nam, we can achieve our goal of becoming a top middle-income country.”
Uganda and Vietnam have maintained diplomatic relations for more than 50 years. The relationship gained fresh momentum after President Museveni visited Vietnam in November 2022.
