A recent meeting between VCCI Vice President Nguyen Quang Vinh and UNCCI President Olive Kigongo pointed to a new approach to strengthening economic ties between the two countries: moving beyond signing agreements to providing more practical support to businesses.

From cooperation agreements to concrete business connections

According to VCCI Vice President Nguyen Quang Vinh, diplomatic relations and economic, trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Uganda are making good progress. As the representative of Vietnam’s business community, VCCI has actively coordinated with the Embassy of Uganda and UNCCI to find more effective ways to support businesses in both countries. The Vietnam-Uganda Business Forum, held in mid-August 2026, was one concrete activity in this direction.

UNCCI President Olive Kigongo said direct meetings between businesses from the two countries are important for building understanding and laying the foundation for cooperation. The Ugandan business delegation attending the Vietnam-Uganda Business Forum included companies operating in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and ICT, seeking opportunities to connect with Vietnamese partners. As the representative of Uganda’s business community, UNCCI supports businesses in expanding their operations both domestically and in international markets.

VCCI and UNCCI are working to put the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two sides into practice. UNCCI President Olive Kigongo said that, in practice, many MoUs remain only on paper after being signed. Therefore, the Ugandan business delegation’s visit to Vietnam and the business-matching activities are seen as concrete steps toward implementing the MoU.

VCCI Vice President Nguyen Quang Vinh said cooperation should not stop with one forum. The two sides need to continue exchanging information on the business environment and market potential, while organizing business delegations from Vietnam to Uganda and from Uganda to Vietnam.

Strengthening the business bridge for greater market access

One key point in the discussion was the role of VCCI and UNCCI in closing information gaps and reducing risks for businesses entering new markets.

Nguyen Quang Vinh said VCCI will continue coordinating with UNCCI, the Embassy of Uganda and relevant agencies to provide more information on markets and business and investment opportunities, helping Vietnamese businesses access Uganda, Africa and broader international markets.

Meanwhile, Olive Kigongo said UNCCI is ready to serve as a focal point in Uganda. In addition to sharing information, UNCCI can help Vietnamese businesses identify local partners and assess their suitability.

For Uganda, Olive Kigongo also pointed to its access to regional markets. Although the country has no seaport, it has road connections with several neighboring countries, including Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She said this should be considered alongside logistics costs when businesses assess investment and business opportunities in Uganda.

The two sides agreed to continue organizing business delegations, exchanging information and pursuing new trade promotion activities, including the possibility of holding a forum in Uganda. This longer-term cooperation between VCCI and UNCCI will help Vietnamese and Ugandan businesses become familiar with each other, better understand the markets, build trust with partners and turn opportunities into concrete business activities.