Xiamen, China – Uganda has participated in the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), which run from 8-11 September 2026 in Xiamen City, Fujian Province, China, with a strong focus on expanding export markets, attracting investment, promoting tourism, and building strategic partnerships in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).
The four-day Fair provided Uganda with a major international platform to advance its ECD agenda and contribute to the Government’s Tenfold Growth Strategy. The 2026 CIFIT expanded its exhibition area from 120,000 square metres to approximately 200,000 square metres, with a major focus on investment promotion, project matchmaking, technology, and green development.
The Consulate spearheaded Uganda’s participation at the Fair, supported by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Uganda Embassy in Beijing, Uganda Investment Authority, Uganda Free Zones and Export Promotions Authority, Uganda Media Centre, and private-sector stakeholders.
Uganda’s presence made a strong impression on the opening day, with coffee tastings and cultural performances drawing large crowds to the booths, resulting in many enquiries about purchasing Ugandan coffee in China. Staff shared information on Chinese online purchasing platforms for Ugandan coffee, demonstrating how international exhibitions such as CIFIT can translate product visibility into market access and trade opportunities for Ugandan exporters.
Visitors also scanned the QR code for the Consulate’s official WeChat account, creating an important digital channel through which the Mission can maintain contact with prospective buyers, partners, investors and tourists beyond the Fair.
On the sidelines of CIFIT, the Mission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uganda, organised a dedicated STI Partnership Promotion Mission to foster partnerships between Uganda’s STI institutions and Xiamen’s innovation ecosystem. This is significant for Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy, under which STI constitutes a key driver of the country’s transition towards a knowledge-based and high-productivity economy.
As CIFIT progressed, the Uganda delegation continued engaging with investors, businesses, and institutions; participated in investment promotion and matchmaking activities; and made presentations positioning Uganda as a competitive destination for trade, investment, tourism, and STI partnerships.
