The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China Certification and Inspection Group Company Ltd (CCIC) to strengthen cooperation in standardization and trade facilitation.
The agreement, signed on August 12, establishes a framework for enhancing mutual understanding, building institutional capacity, and supporting the development and enforcement of quality standards.
UNBS Acting Executive Director, Eng. Kasigwa, said the MoU will open new market opportunities for Ugandan industries by aligning products with China’s quality requirements.
“The MoU explores mutual recognition agreements for standardization, quality assurance, metrology, and testing. This will help our local industries produce goods that comply with Chinese market standards, boosting industrialization and export promotion in line with Uganda’s ten-fold growth strategy,” Eng. Kasigwa stated.
CCIC’s East Africa General Manager, Zhonghui Guo, said the partnership would also improve Uganda’s conformity assessment systems.
“We expect to build a new laboratory in Uganda, enhance product and factory inspections, and issue reports and certificates to support exportation of Ugandan-made products to China and other global markets,” Zhonghui said.
Under the agreement, UNBS and CCIC will:
- Exchange information on standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures.
- Organize joint training programs, workshops, and capacity-building initiatives, including equipment support to UNBS.
- Exchange experts, publications, and best practices in standardization and quality infrastructure.
- Form joint technical committees to address priority sectors.
- Explore mutual recognition agreements to facilitate fair trade.
Collaborate within international frameworks such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and Codex Alimentarius.
The partnership is expected to enhance Uganda’s market compliance systems, improve the quality of locally produced goods, and expand access to global markets.
