Uganda Eyes Vietnam’s Smart Card Expertise to Supercharge Digital Transformation

In a strategic push to accelerate Uganda’s digital agenda, a high-level Ugandan delegation led by Ambassador to Vietnam H.E. Betty Bigombe has toured the MK Smart Card Factory in Hanoi, seeking lessons from one of Southeast Asia’s leading manufacturers of smart cards and secure digital solutions.

The visit, conducted ahead of the Pearl of Africa Business Forum and Expo (Vietnam Chapter), offered the team first-hand insights into Vietnam’s advanced capabilities in smart card technology. Officials explored opportunities for knowledge exchange, technology transfer, investment, and broader collaboration that could support Uganda’s drive toward digital transformation, innovation, and improved public service delivery.

Dr. Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, described the engagement as a valuable chance for Uganda to draw from Vietnam’s experience. She emphasized that strengthening such partnerships would help advance digital transformation, foster innovation, and enhance the delivery of government services to citizens.

MK Smart, established in 2003, has grown into a major player in the region. The company operates manufacturing facilities and specializes in a wide range of products, including financial cards, SIM cards, electronic national IDs, and electronic passports. Its expertise in secure digital identity and payment solutions aligns closely with priorities under Uganda’s National Digital Transformation Programme, which aims to expand broadband access, digitize government services, and build domestic technological capacity.

The factory tour forms part of a broader series of engagements designed to convert longstanding Uganda-Vietnam diplomatic ties into concrete economic and technological partnerships. Bilateral trade between the two countries has expanded rapidly in recent years, rising from about US$22 million in 2024 to roughly US$95.5 million in 2025. Vietnamese investment commitments in Uganda currently stand at around US$40 million, concentrated mainly in mining and construction.

The Pearl of Africa Business Forum and Expo, scheduled primarily for 12 August 2026 at the JW Marriott Hanoi, is expected to draw more than 300 delegates. Organized by the Uganda High Commission in collaboration with Ugandan government agencies and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the event will showcase investment opportunities in agro-processing, manufacturing, information and communications technology, business process outsourcing, tourism, mining, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy. It also aims to position Uganda as a strategic gateway for Vietnamese businesses seeking access to the African Continental Free Trade Area market of approximately 1.4 billion people.

Ambassador Bigombe has consistently highlighted the complementary strengths of the two nations: Uganda’s natural resources, competitive labour costs, and regional market access paired with Vietnam’s industrial expertise and technological know-how. Officials view the smart card sector as one of several areas with strong potential for mutual benefit, particularly as Uganda works to modernize identification systems, financial inclusion tools, and secure digital infrastructure.

The Hanoi visit underscores a deliberate shift in Uganda’s economic diplomacy—moving beyond traditional trade promotion toward targeted technology partnerships that can support job creation, skills development, and the localization of digital value chains. By learning from Vietnam’s journey in building domestic manufacturing capacity in high-tech areas such as smart cards, Ugandan policymakers hope to accelerate progress toward a more innovative and digitally enabled economy.

As the Pearl of Africa forum approaches, both sides appear focused on turning exploratory visits into lasting collaborations that deliver tangible results in digital innovation and service delivery.