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"I hope to replicate China's successful experience in Africa!" ——Cross-border e-commerce has brought new opportunities to China-Africa economic and trade

author:Xinhua

Beijing, 30 Mar (Xinhua) -- "I hope to replicate China's successful experience in Africa!" Originally from Ethiopia, Nell returned to China to start a local online payment company after receiving a master's degree in data science and information technology from Tsinghua University's Shenzhen International Graduate School. Nell said that China's exploration in the field of e-commerce is particularly worthy of reference for African countries.

E-commerce is an important sector with rapid growth in China-Africa economic and trade cooperation. Ethiopian coffee, Rwandan chili sauce, Kenyan black tea, Ghanaian chocolate, Tanzanian cashew nuts... A large number of African good things are entering thousands of households in China through cross-border e-commerce platforms.

"I hope to replicate China's successful experience in Africa!" ——Cross-border e-commerce has brought new opportunities to China-Africa economic and trade

On May 14, 2020, Rwandan coffee farmers watched the live broadcast and cheered after seeing 3,000 pounds of coffee sold out instantly.

In May 2020, Rwandan Ambassador to China Kimonio spoke for his hometown specialties for the first time through live broadcasts, and 3,000 pounds of Rwandan coffee were instantly sold out in the live broadcast room. Since then, Kimonio has repeatedly visited live broadcast rooms and TV programs on various e-commerce platforms, bringing goods for Rwandan coffee, chili peppers and other agricultural products.

In 2022, the "4th Double Goods Online Shopping Festival and African Good Things Online Shopping Festival" was held, during which more than 200 high-quality products from more than 20 African countries participated in the exhibition. Riding the east wind of the digital economy, African products have been recognized and loved by more and more Chinese consumers, and at the same time, Chinese brands are also deepening the expansion of the African market.

Through interviews with a number of industry players recently, the reporter deeply felt the convenience brought by the development of the digital economy to China-Africa economic and trade exchanges.

Jing Jianhua, a coffee practitioner and founder of Little Coffee Master Coffee Co., Ltd., has been introducing high-quality African products to the Chinese market through direct communication with African coffee farmers. "The direct sales model and the self-run coffee roasting factory model not only reduce costs, but also help more African coffee farmers increase their income." Jing Jianhua said.

"I hope to replicate China's successful experience in Africa!" ——Cross-border e-commerce has brought new opportunities to China-Africa economic and trade

In June 2021, Kilimall Kenya overseas warehouse employees sorted the ordered goods. (Photo courtesy of Changsha Feituo Information Technology Co., Ltd.)

Kilimall, an e-commerce platform under Changsha Feituo Information Technology Co., Ltd., was established in 2014, and "post-90s" African guy Silas Musiyoka has been working on this China-Africa cross-border e-commerce platform for five years. Now, he not only has a stable income, but also has become a "mentor" for friends who are willing to start a business.

"Working here has made me more familiar with Kenya's development of technology industries, markets and supply chains." Musiyoka believes that China's successful exploration in the field of e-commerce can help Kenya fill the gap in supply chain and technology.

In order to solve the problem of weak infrastructure in Africa, Kilimall has established its own logistics and distribution team and e-commerce offline outlets. In addition, the company also pays attention to training local African managers and working with local employees to select Chinese products suitable for African consumers.

"I hope to replicate China's successful experience in Africa!" ——Cross-border e-commerce has brought new opportunities to China-Africa economic and trade

Silas opens at the office of the Kenya National Operations Centre in Kilimall on March 28, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Changsha Feituo Information Technology Co., Ltd.)

In addition to Kilimall, Chinese cross-border e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba International Station, Jiku, and Xiyin have also entered the African market.

Xu Ci, general manager of Changsha Infinite Starry Sky Company, told reporters that the company has just received orders from South African customers and hopes to order two additional containers of solar photovoltaic panels. The company exports new energy products such as photovoltaic panels and household energy storage systems to Africa through cross-border e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba International Station. Cross-border e-commerce platforms can help enterprises reach more potential customers more conveniently, reduce logistics, inventory and rent costs, shorten procurement and sales cycles, and improve production and operation efficiency.

The "Digital Innovation Project" is one of the "Nine Projects" identified by the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo established by the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation is continuing to focus on the e-commerce field. The third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, which will be held in Changsha this year, will hold the African Good Things Live Online Shopping Festival and organize more high-quality African goods to enter the Chinese market.

"I hope to replicate China's successful experience in Africa!" ——Cross-border e-commerce has brought new opportunities to China-Africa economic and trade

March 27, 2023, photographed in Hunan "market procurement + cross-border e-commerce" new model industrial park. (Photo courtesy of interviewee)

Wang Haipeng, head of the operator of the Hunan "Market Procurement + Cross-border E-commerce" New Model Industrial Park, which hosted the live broadcast event, said that in the past two years, Africa's infrastructure construction has been continuously improved, cross-border e-commerce has brought new opportunities for China-Africa commercial and trade cooperation, and China-Africa e-commerce cooperation has strong vitality and bright prospects.

Reporters: Liu Youmin, Zhang Yujie, Zhang Chenguang, Zhou Chuyun, Zhang Ge, Ruan around

Editors: Huang Han, Yang Jun, Yu Maofeng, Ma Zegang, Ma Zhan, Su Liang, Yu Rong, Li Jie, Liu Yifang, Zhang Dacheng

Jointly produced by the International Department of Xinhua News Agency and the Hunan Branch of Xinhua News Agency

Produced by Xinhua News Agency's International Communication Integration Platform

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