General (Rtd) Salim Saleh,
Representatives from Liao Shen Industrial Park,
Hon. Ministers,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen.
Good morning!
It is a great honour to join you today in celebrating a truly significant milestone: the 10th anniversary of the Uganda Liao Shen Industrial Park.
A decade ago, this park was a land for agriculture, and the park was only a vision, a blueprint for cooperation and shared prosperity. This shift from green fields to a dynamic industrial base in ten years is a miracle, a vivid example of economic and social transformation that Uganda has experienced under the strong leadership of H.E. President Museveni. Congratulations to Uganda.
Today, we witness a thriving hub of industry, a testament to what can be achieved through the strong partnership and win-win cooperation between China and Uganda. The park aligns with Uganda’s own development aspirations, particularly in the areas of industrialisation and value addition as outlined in Uganda’s Vision 2040.
The success story of Kapeeka Industrial Park is not only a story of job creation, providing valuable employment opportunities for thousands of Ugandan citizens, empowering local families, and fostering skills development, but also a story of technology transfer, enhancing local industrial capabilities, and contributing to Uganda’s economic modernisation.
This achievement is not accidental. It stems from the unwavering support of the Ugandan government, whose pro-investment policies and conducive business environment have been instrumental. It is also attributed to the relentless efforts of the Park’s investors and management team. Most importantly, it is built on the hard work, dedication, and talent of the Ugandan and Chinese staff working side-by-side.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In recent years, bilateral cooperation has achieved fruitful results under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). During the Summit of FOCAC, China announced a zero-tariff policy for 100% tariff lines to 33 African countries, including Uganda.
In the meantime, the General Administration of Customs of China and Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries signed two protocols of phytosanitary requirements for the export of dried chillies and wild aquatic products from Uganda to China. On December 31, 2024, 1,084 kilogrammes of dried wild Nile seabass maw from Uganda arrived in Changsha, Hunan Province in China. This June, China announced to extend the zero tariff policy to all 53 African countries that have diplomatic ties with China. On November 20th 2025, we witnessed the presidential flagging off of the first consignment of 11 tonnes of dried chilli sent from Uganda to China.
The implementation of the zero-tariff policy has yielded noticeable results. As of the first 10 months of this year, the total trade volume between China and Uganda reached $1.68 billion, an increase of 42.5% compared to the same period last year, setting a new record for the same period in history. China’s imports from Uganda amounted to approximately $119 million, with an increase of 93.7%.
China’s investment in Uganda across all sectors exceeded $42 million.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Under the guidance of President Xi and President Museveni, the China-Uganda comprehensive strategic partnership has continued to develop, creating broader space for bilateral cooperation.
China and Uganda are close partners on the path to modernisation. We share similar values and ideas. To have a better life is a common aspiration of China and Uganda.
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