Ghanaian traders at the 18th CIFIT in Xiamen find willing buyers in Chinese visitors

AFRICA has become a major partner in the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), aiming to boost its trade relationship with the Asian economic giant.

The strong presence of African countries at the recent 18th CIFIT, held in Xiamen, capital of southeast China's coastal Fujian Province from September 8 -11, saw African traders and manufacturers take full advantage of the current strengthening ties between China and Africa, and enhance the relationship even further.

From the stands of Ghana to Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, Senegal and Nigeria, it was clear that China is the place for Africans to do business as hordes of customers poured in to choose from the array of products exhibited by Africans companies.

However, it was Ghana which showed the most commitment to grasp the opportunity and balance its trade relationship with China by participating in the fair with 20 exhibitors.

Currently, the volume of trade between the two countries stands at $5.4 billion with the scales tilting in favor of China, which exports heavy machinery to Ghana.

Commodities exhibited by the Ghanaians during the fair included: raw shea butter, medicinal plants and seeds, spices, moringa leaf powder, hair and body creams made from cocoa and shea butter, clothes, handicrafts, assorted musical drums, woodcrafts, honey, baskets, bags, sandals and hats made from raffia, and soap made from local materials (alata samina).

The fair is one of China's international investment promotion events aimed at facilitating bilateral investment.

It not only showcases comprehensively the investment environments, policies, projects and corporate products in all the Chinese provinces, but also attracts investment promotion agencies from around the world.

The fair offers optimum opportunity for businesses, including small-scale enterprises both in China and abroad, to get an overview of the investment climates in China and other countries.

This year, exhibitors and officials from more than 100 countries and regions attended the fair which also included business seminars, forums and signing of trade and investment agreements.

Ghana was represented at the ministerial level by Greater Accra Regional Minister Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Murtala Mohammed.

Ghanaian exhibitors' impression

A number of Ghanaian exhibitors expressed satisfaction about the patronage of their goods and expressed their willingness to participate in future fairs organized in China to boost their trade.

They praised the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) for affording them the opportunity at international level to exhibit their products and trade with their Chinese counterparts.

"I give the GEPA the thumbs up. Business is good here," said Ahmed N. A. Tackie Obili, owner of Hispano Enterprise.

Eunice Odeki Obuobi, owner of Odeki Ghana Enterprise which deals in assorted non-traditional commodities, said doing business in China was good and her products were already doing well in the Chinese market.

"Chinese believe that whatever comes from Africa is organic. We must therefore maintain the originality of our products," she said. "The Chinese market has improved my business by 70 percent."

She cautioned against the sale of fake and inferior products which could make the Chinese lose interest in African products.

Francisca Opoku of Accra-based Solution Oasis, which produces shea/cocoa butter based products, urged African traders at such international trade and investment fairs to always present quality products to attract buyers.

"We should be professional and represent Ghana and Africa well to outsiders. There is no need for us to rush to make huge profits with inferior goods since that attitude would not augur well for the promotion of made-in-Ghana goods outside the country," Opoku said.

One Ghanaian stand that caught the attention of many buyers was Bilafrick Enterprise, where raw shea butter was being sold.

There were all smiles as Hajia Mariam Billa, assisted by her Chinese interpreter, dished out portions of raw shea butter from a big calabash to her customers.

"I am making good sales and I am hoping that all my products will be sold. The Chinese are very interested in the raw shea butter," she stated.

Most of the exhibitors said that some Chinese businesspeople have expressed interest in the distribution of their products and hoped that they would be able to sign deals for such business collaborations.

In an interview, Murtala Mohammed said China was a giant among developing countries and Ghana would continue to collaborate with China under the south-south cooperation.

He also said efforts were being made to ensure that Ghana's cooperation with China led to the establishment of industries in the country to increase Ghana's exportable goods and provide employment for the youth.