BEIRUT, Lebanon: Uganda is seeking to expand its exports to Lebanon, leveraging one of the Middle Eastern country’s leading hospitality, food and beverage exhibitions to connect local producers with international buyers and attract investment.
ChimpReports understands Uganda is showcasing its products and investment opportunities at the HORECA exhibition in Beirut under the leadership of its Honorary Consul to Lebanon, Ambassador Mohamed Khodor Hussein.
The second day of the exhibition saw Uganda’s pavilion attract senior Lebanese government officials, business leaders and prominent importers, underscoring growing interest in trade opportunities between the two countries.
Among the visitors were Lebanon’s ministers of Agriculture and Industry, the president of the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and some of the country’s leading coffee and fruit importers.
This week’s engagements focused on exploring potential commercial partnerships and expanding market access for Ugandan products.
Hussein said the discussions “mark an important step towards expanding Uganda’s exports to Lebanon.”
He said the exhibition would also create opportunities for Ugandan farmers and manufacturers while strengthening bilateral economic ties.
“Through such initiatives, Uganda continues to translate diplomatic relations into meaningful trade and investment opportunities,” Hussein said.
The initiative forms part of Uganda’s broader economic diplomacy strategy, which seeks to leverage the country’s diplomatic missions and consular representatives to promote exports, attract foreign investment and establish international business partnerships.
Uganda has increasingly positioned agricultural exports and agro-industrialisation at the centre of its economic transformation agenda, with the government encouraging diplomatic missions to identify commercial opportunities for domestic producers.
Expanding export markets
Uganda’s participation comes as the country intensifies efforts to diversify its export markets beyond traditional destinations in Europe, Asia and the East African region.
Coffee, Uganda’s leading agricultural export, presents significant opportunities in Lebanon, where coffee consumption is deeply embedded in the country’s culture and hospitality industry.
Uganda, one of Africa’s leading coffee producers, has been pursuing greater access to international markets while encouraging investment in domestic processing and value addition to increase export earnings.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda exported 8.6 million 60-kilogramme bags of coffee worth US$2.3 billion (Shs8.3 trillion) in the 12 months to May 2026, representing a 16 percent increase in export volumes and an 11 percent rise in earnings compared with the preceding 12 months.
The country is seeking to build on this performance by diversifying its export markets and increasing investment in coffee processing and value addition.
The engagement with Lebanese fruit importers also presents opportunities for Uganda’s horticultural sector, particularly producers seeking new markets for tropical fruits and processed agricultural products.
However, securing sustained access to such markets will require Ugandan exporters to meet international quality standards, ensure reliable supply and establish efficient logistics networks.
The HORECA exhibition, which brings together hospitality operators, food and beverage suppliers, distributors and investors, provides a platform for Ugandan businesses to engage directly with potential buyers and understand market requirements.
