Africa grows presence at China trade table

Ten countries promote commerce, investment, tourism and closer relations at giant event in Xiamen

African officials who attended the 18th China International Fair for Investment and Trade in the southeastern coastal city of Xiamen, Fujian province, called the event a valuable chance to promote their countires.

Vice-Premier Wang Yang opened the four-day event that gathered delegates from more than 900 institutions and 110 countries.

Africa was represented by exhibitors and participants from Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Seychelles, Rwanda, Zambia and Namibia. Other African countries that held promotional activities at the fair and had officials attend were Sudan, Kenya and South Africa.

Despite South Africa sending a large delegation, they were ineligible to have a stand according to the rules since it was a "guest of honor" country last year with the largest stand at the fair, according to Zhang Zhiwei of Fujian province's Foreign Affairs Office.

The Sudan Minister for Commerce Mustafa Osman Ismail, Ghana's Greater Accra Regional Minister Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, and Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Phyllis Kandie were among African leaders who attended the International Investment Forum at the event. Zambian Permanent Secretary for Commerce Siazongo Siakalenge was also in attendance.

The Tanzanian stand at the trade fair was busy, with participants visiting to acquire hand-carved Tanzanian artifacts. Karibu Arts and Crafts Ltd, a private company from Dar es Salaam, displayed thousands of the wooden artifacts. Joyce Hingi, the company's sales and marketing manager, said they sold hundreds of pieces.

"We have managed to market successfully the Tanzanian handmade, wood artifacts to many participants, yet this is our very first trade fair in Fujian province," said an elated Hingi.

One of the company's directors, Pamela Uiso, said it plans to join with a company in Fujian to set up a shop in the province to sell the artifacts.

At the Kenyan stand, the Kenya Tourism Board, the country's international marketing agency, displayed artifacts, tea and a variety of nuts. Hilda Ogada, the assistant regional marketing manager, said companies that import tea and repackage it for the Chinese market were the focus for most visitors at the stand.

"A Chinese company from Fujian province has been importing tea from Kenya since 2012. The company repackages and sells the tea under the Flamingo trade name," she said.

Addressing delegates at the forum, Kandie encouraged Chinese enterprises to look to Kenya to reach a wider regional market.

"If you invest in Kenya, you will have access to 42 million Kenyans, 140 million East Africans and 400 million people in Comesa," Kandie said.

Comesa is the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, a free trade area.

"Kenya was voted the best safari destination last year at the 20th World Travel Awards, and the insecurity concerns that have plagued the country are being addressed," Kandie said.

She told delegates that her ministry was focused on marketing Kenya as a major regional investment hub.

"The strategic plan of my ministry is to market Kenya as a holistic tourism, commerce and investment hub for Kenyans, East Africans and the larger Comesa region. We have put up measures to set up a commodities exchange to link the demand and supply of exports."

On the sidelines of the fair, African leaders met separately with Fujian province Governor Su Shulin and Vice-Governor Zheng Xiaosong to hold discussions and sign partnership agreements.

Afotey-Agbo of Ghana signed an agreement with Fujian government officials to create a sister provinces relationship, which would in turn promote bilateral cooperation. The agreement will cover exchanges in trade, culture, education and agriculture between Fujian and the Accra region.

Kenyan Parliament Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso, together with an entourage of members of parliament and senators, also held "fruitful discussions".

"We met the Fujian Governor Su Shulin and discussed, among many other things, the possibility of signing agreements with the coastal town of Mombasa's Governor Hassan Ali Joho to make Xiamen and Mombasa sister cities," Laboso said.

The agreement will promote cultural and commercial ties between the two harbor-rich areas. Fujian has a long coastline with a total of 120 ports, while Mombasa is East Africa's largest port, handling 280,000 tons of cargo annually.

The CIFIT event, organized by China's Ministry of Commerce, is held in Xiamen every September and is in its 18th year. Organizers said they expect more African countries to participate in future events at the fair.

For China Daily

(China Daily Africa Weekly 09/12/2014 page22)