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“Belt and Road” cooperation boosts “Made in Africa”

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“Belt and Road” cooperation boosts “Made in Africa”

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© Xinhua News Agency
On August 10, 2023, Ahmed Soliman, deputy general manager of Jushi Egypt Fiberglass Co., Ltd., inspected the Jushi Egypt Fiberglass production line at the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Suez Province, Egypt. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sui Xiankai

Among the various industrial parks established by African countries, many are built and operated by Chinese companies. Through these industrial parks, African countries can participate more effectively in the global industrial chain and promote the internationalization of local brands.

NAIROBI, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) — From Uganda to Egypt, from Senegal to Nigeria, industrial parks and industrial parks built by Chinese companies on the African continent are booming across Africa, helping the continent better integrate into the global production chain and promote new African brands.

Driven by the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s participation in African industry has also promoted the ecological and sustainable development of local manufacturing, thereby improving its competitiveness in the global market. As this fruitful cooperation continues to advance, the prospects for “Made in Africa” ​​are bright.

“Made in Africa” booms

Helen Mugala, 27, joins hundreds of colleagues every morning to head to the Central Uganda Mbale Industrial Park in the eastern region of Mbale, Uganda. “This industrial park has helped many local people. I have learned skills and earned money,” she said.

The industrial park is invested and operated by Chinese private enterprise Tian Tang Group. Since its establishment in March 2018, it has attracted more than 40 companies to settle in and created more than 5,000 jobs locally.

One company worth noting in the park is Pearllight Technology Co., Ltd, which manufactures lighting products and has contributed to reducing Uganda’s reliance on imported LED lights by producing them at low prices and providing convenient repair services.

© Xinhua News Agency
On April 5, 2024, workers worked at Mingzhu Technology Co., Ltd. in the Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park in Mbale, Uganda. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Yahui

“Previously, Uganda’s LED lamps were mainly imported, which were expensive and difficult to maintain. Chinese companies have changed this situation. Now, our company produces about 3 million LED bulbs and tubes every year and sells them all over Uganda,” said local technician Joseph Otim.

The park covers an area of ​​thousands of hectares and covers multiple industries including home appliances, daily chemicals, home textiles, building materials, medicines, mobile phones, televisions, automobiles, etc. It is a concentrated embodiment of the results of China-Africa cooperation in jointly building the “Belt and Road” and a model for driving local industrialization and modernization by incubating local brands.

Among the various industrial parks established in African countries, many are built and operated by Chinese companies, such as the Diamniadio International Industrial Platform in Senegal, the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Nigeria, and the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Egypt. These parks can help African countries participate more effectively in the global industrial chain and promote the internationalization of local brands.

Environmentally friendly manufacturing

The “Belt and Road” initiative advocates ecological civilization and sustainable development, and supports African countries in adopting green technologies and clean energy in manufacturing. This is not only conducive to protecting Africa’s natural environment, but also allows African manufacturing to obtain the label of “green manufacturing” and enhance its attractiveness in the global market.

Gogo Electric, headquartered in Kampala, Uganda, is one of the three largest electric motorcycle manufacturers in Uganda. The company imports lithium-ion batteries from China and assembles electric motorcycles for the local market.

Janos Bisasso, the company’s chief operating officer, said customers can always bring their old batteries to a battery swap station, where they can exchange them for fully charged batteries at a lower price. Over time, customers may realize that replacing batteries is cheaper than refueling, encouraging them to choose electric motorcycles.

© Xinhua News Agency
This is a photo taken on June 3, 2023 of an electric bus operating in Nairobi, Kenya. (Xinhua News Agency/Wang Guansen)

In Kenya, the BasiGo project in Nairobi highlights the importance of cooperation in the field of environmentally friendly transportation. Faced with a depreciating currency and rising energy import costs, the Kenyan government has stepped up support for the electric vehicle industry, which relies on the country’s renewable energy resources.

Kenyan startup BasiGo launched an electric bus service in March 2022, assembled locally from parts provided by Chinese auto company BYD.

Mutoro Sifuna, marketing director of BasiGo, stressed that electric buses offer significant savings in energy costs compared to diesel buses. They plan to have 1,000 electric buses up and running by 2025.

The future of “Made in Africa” is brighter

The China-Africa cooperation in the field of electric transportation has become a powerful example of the positive results of the Belt and Road Initiative. The high-quality products and technologies brought by Chinese companies meet the needs of local companies and contribute to Africa’s transformation to a more sustainable future.

Africa has huge natural resources and labor potential. Through cooperation with China, Africa has begun to enhance its production capacity, while environmentally friendly manufacturing and innovative technologies have allowed African brands to gain a foothold in the global market.

By further strengthening cooperation, China and Africa are creating a bright future for “Made in Africa”. African countries can develop more advanced technologies, obtain skilled professionals, and create a larger market.

The Belt and Road Initiative has laid a solid foundation. With the determination of both sides and the support of the international community, “Made in Africa” ​​is entering an era of prosperity and sustainable development, contributing to the global economy and improving the lives of the African people.

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