At the ongoing third edition of the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), African participants shared new developments in agricultural processing, economic collaboration, and creative industry efficiency enabled through supply chain partnerships with China.
Gomun Kouya Bertin, commercial advisor at the Embassy of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire in China, praised the China-backed cocoa complex Transcao.
"This year, we're bringing an important announcement to the Expo - the establishment of Transcao, a cocoa processing plant in Cote d'Ivoire. This marks a new chapter of cooperation between China and Cote d'Ivoire in the cocoa sector, one of our country's signature industries. Transcao is a joint venture between China Light Industry Nanning Design Engineering Co., Ltd., and Cote d'Ivoire's Coffee-Cocoa Council, the national regulatory body for the sector," Bertin said.
Transcao is expected to create 1,400 direct jobs, helping reduce poverty while also enabling producers to earn more from their labor, he added
Ndusi Ruziga, economic counselor at the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo in China, emphasized the untapped potential of Congolese agriculture.
"The agricultural sector in the DRC holds enormous development potential. We are located in the tropical zone, with abundant rainfall, rich sunlight year-round, and fertile soil. We share similar agricultural potential with China, but the key difference is that our agriculture is not yet modernized. China has achieved outstanding progress in many areas, from green development to agricultural modernization. That's why our national leaders are calling on us to learn from China's development model to grow our own agricultural economy," Ruziga said.
Cameroonian fashion designer Xavier Owona highlighted how living in China has enhanced his creative efficiency.
"Living in China has greatly improved my work efficiency. Now, I usually design my own fabrics [before production.] Compared to peers who are not based in China, the waiting time for manufacturing is much shorter. Even starting from the first design consultation with suppliers, [we save a great deal of time.] This enables me to closely track the production schedule, so I can better plan my launches and future activities," said Owona.
The CISCE is the world's first state-level expo dedicated to global supply chains. This year, the five-day event attracts nearly 1,200 exhibitors both from home and abroad.
African participants highlight China supply chain cooperation at CISCE
