Business
Uganda, China Seal Standards Partnership to Boost Trade and Exports
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has entered into a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China Certification and Inspection Group Company Ltd (CCIC) aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation and strengthening trade ties between Uganda and China.
CCIC, a State-owned enterprise approved by China’s State Council and registered by the State Administration of Industry and Commerce (SAIC), is one of the world’s leading providers of inspection, verification, certification, and testing services. The agreement lays the groundwork for a comprehensive collaborative framework that will foster mutual understanding, bolster institutional capacity, and advance standardisation, conformity assessment, and quality assurance systems between the two countries.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, UNBS Executive Director, Eng. James Kasigwa described the partnership as “timely” and central to Uganda’s economic aspirations. “The MOU explores mutual recognition agreements for standardisation, quality assurance, metrology and testing, which will help our local industries to produce goods that comply with the standards requirements of the Chinese market,” Kasigwa said. “This will boost industrialisation and export promotion in line with Uganda’s ten-fold growth strategy.”
China has become an increasingly important market for Ugandan exports, particularly coffee, tea, and other agricultural products. The MoU seeks to ensure that Uganda’s goods not only meet the strict requirements of Chinese regulators but also compete effectively in other global markets.
CCIC’s General Manager for East Africa, Mr. Zhonghui Guo, highlighted the organisation’s commitment to upgrading Uganda’s quality infrastructure. “We look forward to enhancing UNBS’ conformity assessment procedures for Chinese standards,” Zhonghui said. “We plan to build a new laboratory in Uganda, enhance product and factory inspections, and issue internationally recognised reports and certificates to support the exportation of Ugandan-made products to China and other parts of the world.”
The agreement outlines several areas of cooperation, including: Exchange of standards and technical regulations to ensure mutual understanding of market requirements. Capacity building initiatives such as training programmes, workshops, and seminars.
Provision of equipment to UNBS to enhance quality assurance and testing capabilities. Joint technical committees and working groups to address priority sectors and emerging trade issues. Mutual recognition agreements to simplify certification processes and facilitate fair trade. Collaboration in international frameworks, including the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
With Uganda’s exports to China on a steady rise, both parties expressed optimism that the partnership would not only open wider market access but also position Ugandan products as competitive, high-quality goods in the global marketplace.
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