Tanzania National Stadium constructed by BCEG

In March 2012, explosions rocked the capital of the Republic of the Congo after a weapon's depot caught fire. Although all the surrounding buildings collapsed due to the blasts, 11 residential buildings stood firm, protecting nearly 2,000 individuals inside a hospital and school located behind the buildings.

Since then, the quality of buildings erected by Beijing Construction Engineering Group Co. Ltd. (BCEG), which constructed the 11 buildings, has been widely acclaimed in the Republic of the Congo. Founded in 1953, the company started its operations in Africa over 50 years ago. Of its 26 branches around the world, 10 are located in Africa.

This year BCEG is celebrating its 60th anniversary. In 2012, the company's newly-signed contract sales amounted to 60 billion yuan ($9.6 billion), and its total revenue exceeded 50 billion yuan ($8.1 billion) for the first time, with international business contributing significantly to the increase.

During the past year, the company's new contract sales on the overseas market totaled 9.9 billion yuan ($1.6 billion). The number of active overseas projects reached 53, with a total construction area of 2.91 million square meters. The company was engaged in 22 new overseas projects, with a total construction area of 635,000 square meters.

The company has grown into a multi-national giant, engaging in construction design, construction research and development, equipment installation and the construction of municipal roads and bridges.

Footing in Africa

In 1957, when the company first got involved in China's foreign aid construction projects, it became one of the earliest Chinese enterprises to enter the international market and independently take foreign engineering contracts. Today, the company's operations have expanded to Central Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Americas. Africa makes up a significant share of its overseas operations.

"The everlasting friendship between China and Africa has laid a favorable foundation for us to do business in Africa," Ma Tieshan, Deputy General Manager of BCEG, told ChinAfrica. "China's embassies in Africa also help us a lot with our business there," he added.

In 2012, the firm's new contract sales in Africa totaled $750 million. With developers impressed by the company's explosion-resistant buildings, the firm's new contracts sales in the Republic of the Congo reached $190 million.

BCEG buildings can be found all across Africa. The company constructed the Tanzania National Stadium, government office buildings in Brazzaville (the capital of the Republic of the Congo), the Rwanda Convention Center, Zanzibar Airport in Tanzania and highways in southeast Mauritius.