These two points have been regarded as the difficult parts regarding the import of African products: It is difficult to make a declaration for the imported goods from African countries; and the production standards in African countries do not meet domestic demand. Recently, the Hunan Provincial Department of Commerce and the International Trade Center (ITC) of the United Nations jointly launched the “Export Growth in African Countries Partnership Project”, to help African non-resource products enter the Chinese market in a better and faster way.

It was learned that the project relies on the technology, channels, and team advantages of ITC in Africa, to promote normalization and standardization of the inspection and quarantine of key African products and major enterprises; expand the import categories of African products; and, accelerate the process of market access for non-resource product. These initiatives will enable African products to better meet domestic production and consumption needs.

The project will last for 3 years and is based on the two national platforms of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) and the pilot zone for in-depth economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa. It will assist 6 to 10 African countries in selecting a batch of agricultural products and food under the animal and plant inspection and quarantine cooperation agreement. Priority will be given to negotiations to improve the capacity building of African countries' animal and plant quarantine. The project will promote Chinese companies to carry out industrial capacity cooperation with Africa; build a full industrial chain system integrating procurement, warehousing, logistics, processing, display, and sales; and, boost the building of a non-resource product distribution trading and processing center in Africa.

During the 2nd CAETE, the International Trade Center of the United Nations will also release an analysis report on African agricultural products and food exports to China.

Since the 1st CAETE held in 2019, China has continued to expand imports from Africa. Between January and July this year, the China-Africa trade volume reached 139.1 billion USD, an increase of 40.5% and reaching the highest level in the same period in history. During the same period, Hunan's trade with Africa increased by 49.9%, of which imports from Africa grew by 41.3%, most of which were African agricultural products. The Chinese market’s recognition of African products has continued to increase. Imports of agricultural products such as rubber, cotton, and coffee have doubled over the same period last year. Agricultural products such as cashews, sesame, black pepper, and spices are the most popular among Chinese buyers.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn