Uganda agencies and private sector joined other enterprises from over 110 countries all over the world to exhibit its products and tourism at the ongoing Beijing International Horticultural Expo that opened on Monday the 29th April 2019, in Yanqing District of Beijing, China under the theme “Live Green, Live Better.”.
The exposition that was officially opened by H.E Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic of China and attended by a number of other Heads of State and Government is to last for 6 months from 29th April to 7th October 2019 and is expected to attract an estimated 16 million visitors from both the People’s Republic of China and the rest of the world.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Xi Jinping told the delegates that he is optimistic that the green development concept, embodied by the expo park, will spread to every corner of the world. China, he added, has been speeding up ecological civilization development. The people of China will therefore live in a better environment with blue sky, green mountains and clear water. Similarly, he noted that the development model of “killing the hens for eggs” and “draining the lake for fish” is at the dead end.
Uganda was officially represented at the opening ceremony by the Minister of State for Trade Hon. Michael Werikhe Kafabusa and Uganda’s Ambassador to China H.E Dr. Chrispus Kiyonga who later officially opened the Uganda pavilion that is in the East African garden alongside Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia.
For the entire 6-month period of the exposition coordinated by the Uganda Embassy in Beijing in conjunction with the Uganda Export Promotion Board, Uganda will be showcasing its export and tourism products plus the investment potential. The private sector will be participating on a rotational basis each being offered up to four (4) weeks to exhibit products including Flowers, Coffee, dried fruits mostly Mangoes and Pineapples, grains including Sesame, Soya beans, Beans etc, honey, powdered milk, Uganda Waragi, oil seeds including Sesame and Chia, Shea butter, Chili, Fish, Commercial handicrafts and Tourism.
A Uganda National Day will be held on the 22nd June 2019, with in the expo park and is planned to feature special promotional events including a business and investment forum, business to business meetings, expanded exhibition of a variety of products including tourism, musical and cultural performances.
