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Made in Africa
African companies showcase their products at import expo in China
By Xia Yuanyuan | VOL.10 December ·2018-12-04

Ethiopian coffee is popular at the CIIE (XIA YUANYUAN)

When the doors opened for the first ever China International Import Expo (CIIE), it was symbolic of the country's most ambitious policy begun in 1978. Along with the expo, this year marks the 40th anniversary of 

China's reform and opening up that is at the core of the country's economic miracle. Those doors offered a much needed opportunity for African countries, along with others, to put their best foot forward for buyers at the multitude of stands. Cashew nuts from Côte d'Ivoire, fragrant coffee from Ethiopia and succulent oysters from Namibia. These were just some of the eclectic range of products from Africa on display at the expo held in Shanghai on November 5-10. 

A total of 172 countries, regions and international organizations participated in the expo. Among more than 3,600 companies showcasing their products and services, 200 were from over 40 African countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Egypt. 

African countries were given special treatment at the CIIE. "We support African countries in participating in the CIIE," said Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September, adding that the least developed African countries participating in the expo would be exempted from paying exhibition stand fees. 

"The expo shows China is open for business, and it promotes trade partnerships and helps close trading gaps between China and Africa," said Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta who led a delegation of horticultural farmers and traders to China for the event. 

Closer to the market 

Elisabeth E. Pali-Tchalla's booth was one of the busiest at the expo, constantly surrounded by crowds of buyers interested in her products. As general manager of the Togolese Shea Co., she never imagined her shea butter products could be so popular among Chinese customers. 

"Few Chinese customers know about shea butter. We've come just at the right moment. The expo provides us with a platform to let them know what our products are all about," Pali-Tchalla told ChinAfrica. 

Extracted from the nuts of the karité tree that grow in the Sahel region extending from West to East Africa, shea butter products can be used cosmetically to block UV radiation as skin moisturizing cream, and to heal minor injuries and scars. It is also traditionally used in food preparation. 

Pali-Tchalla said that with the rise in demand for natural and organic products in China, she expected a significant growth of the shea butter market in China. 

In Ethiopia, enjoying a cup of coffee with friends is a longstanding tradition. "Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee. We have high-quality hand-made coffee. The CIIE is the start of Ethiopia coffee investigating entry into the Chinese market," Mirafe Gebriel Marcos, Senior Director of Agricultural Transformation Agency of Ethiopia, told ChinAfrica. 

Thanks to intensified promotional campaigns, more Chinese customers will have the chance to taste Ethiopian coffee for themselves. According to Marcos, Garden of Coffee, a leading coffee company in Ethiopia, has announced a major expansion strategy into China, in partnership with a Chinese trading company. Chinese coffee lovers could expect to see 100 stores of this chain soon. 

As a South African integrated energy and chemical company that has been in China since 1992, SASOL is experienced at doing business with Chinese partners. 

"To open the Chinese market, it is vital to understand the local market and consumption preferences," Fleetwood Grobier, Executive Vice President of Chemicals Business at SASOL, told ChinAfrica at the CIIE. "You need to supply customer-focused products designed to meet the ordinary consumer needs in the Chinese market." 

Bearing this in mind, SASOL came to the CIIE to source the latest market information in its field and to understand the latest distribution channels to broaden its market. 

Increase in value 

Although many African countries such as Nigeria, Ethiopia and Rwanda rank among the fastest growing economies in the world, most African countries have limited processing and manufacturing capabilities, which is exacerbated by a slow industrialization process. Exports are still dominated by raw materials and primary agricultural products. 

To improve the added value of African products, Bamana Baroma Magolemièna Timothée, Secretary General of Ministry of Commerce and Private Sector Promotion of Togo, suggested it is necessary to further expand China's investment in Africa, especially in the manufacturing sector, to diversify the continent's economic structure with industrial capacity cooperation and industrialization support programs. 

Ghana is the second largest cocoa exporter in the world, behind Cote d'Ivoire. In the country, there are currently some 800,000 cocoa farmers. Each year, cocoa exports bring about $2 billion in foreign exchange earnings, which is an important source of Ghana's fiscal revenue, according to Edward Boateng, Ambassador of Ghana to China. 

However, only 20 percent of Ghana's cocoa beans are processed locally. Most of the cocoa is exported to European and American markets in the form of raw material. The added value and economic benefits of the industry are low. 

The CIIE offers a good opportunity for Ghanaian cocoa exporters to improve the value of their products. "With the help of the expo, apart from the market, Ghana is also looking to expand its manufacturing capabilities, I hope Ghana's businesses can learn from China's industrialization and industrial upgrading process, and take advantage of new opportunities for industrial added value," Boateng said. 

Across at the Côte d'Ivoire stand, Sylla Fatime from the Culture and Art Foundation of Fatou Sylla said they had brought cashew nuts and intricate wood carvings as part of their showcase displays. "Côte d'Ivoire is the world's largest producer of cashew nuts while the carvings come from south Côte d'Ivoire. In my country, there are a lot of Chinese, and they love these products and the culture behind it. Côte d'Ivoire will seize this opportunity to find more Chinese customers for its products," said an optimistic Fatime. 

Gum Arabic, sesame and peanuts were import enticements from South Sudan. Kuyu Dhel, a consultant at the Ramciel Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society of South Sudan was also upbeat about being in Shanghai. "This is a good opportunity and I really admire this expo. Different companies are presenting different products from the whole world. As a young country, we are exempted from paying exhibition stand fees," he said. 

Narrowing trade gap 

Whenever China trade is discussed, inevitably the issue of imbalance comes into focus. Agak Achuil Lual, Undersecretary of Ministry of Trade, Industry and East African Community Affairs of South Sudan, is positive that the CIIE will help balance the trade between China and African countries, which are betting on the CIIE to increase and diversify their exports to the lucrative Chinese market. Also optimistic was South African Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies who said, "We look forward to exporting more products to China, especially the ones with high added value, to narrow the trade imbalance between China and Africa." 

According to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, China's exports to Africa reached $94.7 billion in 2017, up 2.7 percent year on year; its imports from Africa hit $75.3 billion, up 32.8 percent. China had a trade surplus of $19.5 billion, down 45.2 percent year on year. 

The Chinese Government has made a lot of effort to narrow the bilateral trade gap and began to promote the entry of African products into China by implementing a tariff-free policy in 2005. At this year's FOCAC Beijing Summit, China made the decision to allow 33 least developed African countries to benefit from the zero-tariff policy for 97 percent of their products exported to China. This is also helpful for Chinese enterprises to reduce their own costs and expand options for imports. 

(Comments to xyy@chinafrica.cn) 

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