SUGGESTIONS TO UGANDAN EXPORTERS ATTEMPTING TO EXPORT TO CHINA

To develop Uganda's exports to China further, it is recommended that exporters should consider adopting the following strategies.

1. Search widely for information to understand specific needs of both the Chinese government and people, export priority should be given to those items that have a high turn over urgently.

2. Concentrate efforts on some specific areas of the country. China is a vast country and Uganda's exporters do not have the capacity to cover all of it. However, China's open cities, special economic zones, and open zones are located along the coastal line of the West Pacific. Such a layout facilitates international trade. These cities and areas generate more income, create greater consumer demand, and possess a better market environment and infrastructure, such as well-developed commodity economies, convenient transport system, modern communication facilities, and access to information.

3. Establish long term relations with related companies and individuals. Exporting to China requires not only marketing technology or competition in product quality and price, but personal and social relations. Good relations are conducive to success in trade.

4. Attach importance to learning the Chinese culture, customs and language, so that appropriate market strategies can be implemented with an understanding of China. Employing Chinese graduates in economics and trade as assistants, especially those who have overseas experience, is one way of achieving this objective. Most of these graduates know both China and foreign countries well, they can also speak Chinese and English, which will help any exporters attempting to enter the Chinese market.

5. Chinese ought to know more about Uganda and its consumer products through advertising, especially on television, over 70% of households own a television set. Chinese know very little about Uganda, let alone Uganda's consumer products. Television is one way of rectifying this situation.