Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo, the leader of Uganda’s delegation to FOCAC 2024, engaged in a series of strategic meetings with prominent Chinese investors, on the evening of September 2nd, 2024. These discussions, held on the sidelines of the upcoming Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), centered on enhancing investment in Uganda’s key sectors, including infrastructure, industrialization, and digitization.

The Vice President was accompanied by Hon. Gen. Jeje Odongo Abubakhar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, Minister of Works and Transport, and officials from the Uganda Embassy Beijing led by Uganda’s Ambassador to China Amb. Oliver Wonekha. Their presence underscored the Ugandan government's unified approach to fostering strong international partnerships and attracting investment that aligns with the country's long-term vision.

H.E. Alupo emphasized the critical role that continued investment from Chinese partners plays in advancing Uganda's development goals. She called upon the investors to further support Uganda's strategies, highlighting the nation's commitment to creating an enabling environment for business and innovation. Vice President Jessica Alupo said that Uganda welcomes all foreign direct investments between Chinese sole investors or direct partnerships between investors and the government of Uganda.

She made the remarks in a meeting with a delegation from China Henan International Cooperation Group (CHICO) which is a large scale parastatal comprehensive foreign economic and trade enterprise. H.E. Alupo added that in 2012, CHICO was awarded a 34.5 Million dollar contract to construct the 74km Gulu-Atiak section of the North Nimule road, upgrading of the Rukungiri -Ishasha-Kanungu at a cost price of 57million US dollars thus affirming that the company isn't new to Uganda and will continue working with Uganda.

The Vice President said that under the NDP 3 and which will continue into NDP 4, the focus of the government is premised on the priority areas of agro-industrialization, tourism development, mining and mineral verification including oil and gas and science and innovations. She expressed optimism that Chico Company, given their profile can ably partner with Uganda to enable her achieve the objectives above among others.

CHICO CEO, Xie Hui said that said that the company was established in 1953 whose main businesses covers International engineering contracting, overseas minerals development and international trade. Hui hastened to add that his company enjoys comparative advantages in fields such as transportation, mining water affairs, power and trade. He said that CHICO has successfully implemented more than 800 international contracting projects in more than 20 countries and regions in Asia and Africa and a global human resource of over 10,000 staff.

In a related event the Vice President, received AVIC-INT Project Engineering Company together with China CAMC Engineering company limited and hailed them for helping the country set up cottage industries that are now offering own job opportunities for the youth. The Vice President thanked China CAMC for helping in the electrification of the industrial parks and free trade zones. She said that Uganda being a developing country is considering industrialization as a key path towards transformation. 

The head of delegation of the two companies Dr. Elaine Kiew said that AVIC-INT has a new product known as energy storage and which can benefit Uganda reduce off grid power bills through power storages. The Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Gen. Katumba Wamala, called upon the two companies who are engaging in solar power in storage batteries raising the concern from Ugandans about the short battery life span which leaves many people frustrated.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Gen. Odongo Jeje Abubakhar urged the companies to take advance of the new power generation resource of cassava and generate power in addition to other by products like making starch, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, wines, among others.

These fruitful meetings reflect Uganda's proactive efforts to engage with global investors, ensuring that the outcomes of FOCAC 2024 will translate into tangible progress and shared prosperity for both Uganda and China.