Wig industry boosts Henan's trade with Africa

The wig industry has become a key driver of foreign trade of central China's Henan Province with Africa.

The city of Xuchang in Henan now boasts more than 4,000 enterprises involved in the wig products business. Over 3,000 types of their hair products have been exported to more than 120 countries and regions, with a market share of over 70 percent in Africa. In a local wig factory, workers were busy cutting materials, trimming, and packaging. The handmade wigs will be shipped to Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and other places in Africa.

"Wig products are the second largest export products in Henan Province and the pillar industry of foreign trade in Xuchang City. Up to now, three hair products enterprises in Xuchang have obtained certification as an AEO (Authorized Economic Operator). From January to July this year, the export of wig products from Henan Province [to Africa] has exceeded 3 billion yuan (about 42.13 million U.S. dollars), up 19.7 percent year on year, with products sold to over 20 African countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo," said Yu Hao, deputy head of Xuchang Customs.

Six out of every ten wigs in the world are made in Xuchang, which has become the largest distribution center and export base of wig products globally. In 2023, the export value of wig products from Xuchang reached 16.85 billion yuan, accounting for 71 percent of the city's total export value.

"In the first seven months of this year, Henan's trade with Africa reached 16.33 billion yuan, up 22.2 percent from the same period last year. In the same period, the province's total import and export value with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana all surpassed 1 billion yuan, reaching 2.54 billion yuan, 2.25 billion yuan, 1.83 billion yuan and 1.28 billion yuan, respectively," said Yan Hong, head of the Statistical Analysis Division of Zhengzhou Customs.

Wig industry boosts Henan's trade with Africa

China's top political advisor Wang Huning on Monday urged efforts to unite and guide people in the private sector to become pioneers of high-quality development and promoters of common prosperity, thus playing a prominent part in advancing Chinese modernization.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks in Beijing at a seminar marking the 30th anniversary of the Guangcai Program, a public undertaking that aims to unite private entrepreneurs to promote common prosperity.

Hailing the contributions of the program in fronts such as poverty alleviation, rural revitalization and the private sector's development, Wang called for efforts to enhance the Party's overall leadership over the program, deepen the program's reform and innovation, and promote its self-improvement, so that it can yield more fruitful results.

The seminar was presided over by Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee.

China's top political advisor urges uniting private sector toward Chinese modernization