UNBS, Chinese inspection group partner to boost exports

KAMPALA, Uganda — The Uganda National Bureau of Standards says it is working to harmonize standards with its Chinese counterparts to ease the export of Ugandan products to China.

UNBS Executive Director James Kasigwa said Monday that small and medium enterprises, or SMEs, often struggle to meet China’s strict standards, which limits their export potential.

Kasigwa spoke at the UNBS headquarters in Bweyogerere during the signing of a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, with the China Certification and Inspection Group. The partnership aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation and open one of the world’s largest markets to Ugandan goods.

The collaboration aligns with Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy and UNBS’ five-year strategic plan for 2025-2026.

The MOU establishes mutual recognition agreements for standardization, quality assurance, metrology and testing. This framework will help local industries produce goods that meet Chinese market standards, promoting industrialization and boosting exports.

“This is a landmark step towards enforcing our strategic objective as a bureau,” Kasigwa said.

For years, Ugandan businesses have faced significant challenges in exporting to China due to complex quality standards. The new MOU will help bridge that gap by providing a clearer roadmap for industries to produce certified goods. This reduces the time and cost associated with obtaining multiple certifications and makes it easier for Ugandan products to compete internationally.

Zhonghui Guo, the general manager of CCIC for East Africa, said the partnership will boost the quality of key Ugandan exports to China, such as coffee, tea and cotton. This focus on agricultural products, the backbone of Uganda’s economy, is expected to have an immediate and significant impact.

The MOU will facilitate capacity building for UNBS employees, enhance testing capabilities, and ensure that certifications from CCIC are recognized by UNBS and vice versa. This means products intended for the Chinese market will not be subjected to another inspection.

Uganda-China Trade

According to the United Nations COMTRADE database, Uganda’s exports to China reached $107.29 million in 2023. Key products include coffee, oilseeds and aquatic products, with growth supported by new trade protocols.