Located in the Yueyang Lingang High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Yueyang Guansheng Investment Development Co., Ltd. is currently accelerating the construction of rubber processing plants in Wassané City and Guitry City, Côte d'Ivoire. Trial production is expected to begin in the first half of this year. Once fully operational, the plants are projected to reach annual production capacities of 80,000 tonnes and 150,000 tonnes, respectively.

Yueyang is seizing significant opportunities brought by the construction of the Pioneering Zone for In-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation, continuing to leverage the platform advantages of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE). Last year, the city successfully hosted the China-Africa Power and New Energy Development Cooperation, Exchange and Matchmaking Conference, part of the Fourth CAETE, during which eight major outcomes were announced and 14 project plans were signed, signifying a total investment of 10.699 billion CNY. Meanwhile, the Yueyang Municipal People's Government has signed a framework cooperation agreement with the China Electricity Council (CEC) to jointly establish the "China-Africa Cooperation (Yueyang) Energy Base of China Power International Cooperation Union." With support from the National Development and Reform Commission (National Energy Administration), the city is accelerating the construction of the Yueyang Power Equipment Industrial Park to attract CEC member enterprises. The first batch of enterprises is expected to commence production this year.

Yueyang is accelerating the integration of industry, manufacturing, and trade. Companies such as the Yueyang Guansheng Investment Development Co., Ltd. and the Jinzai Food Group have cumulatively invested 200 million USD in other countries that include Kenya, Tanzania, and Côte d'Ivoire. The rubber processing plant in San Pedro, Côte d'Ivoire, has been completed and put into operation, while the sunflower seed processing plant and the Dodoma overseas warehouse in Tanzania have also commenced operations. The Africa Business Alliance's first major domestic project, the Natural Mica Storage Center, has been established in Yueyang. The Yueyang China-Africa Economic and Trade Pilot Zone Headquarters Base has been launched, with more than 30 enterprises settled in. Their business operations cover over 20 African countries and nearly 20 trade categories, including rubber, mica, and sesame. A "trade + services" industrial ecosystem has been preliminarily formed, driving the transformation of the trade chain into an industrial chain.

Currently, Yueyang's "Hunan-Shanghai-Africa" river-sea intermodal transport corridor is officially operational. A "new customs clearance model for imported goods classified as food-medicine homologous" has been introduced, enabling rapid same-day clearance for products such as Nigerian cassia seeds. The first Digital Intelligence Legal Affairs Park at the China (Hunan) Pilot Free Trade Zone has been established to help enterprises mitigate risks. In 2025, Yueyang's import and export volume with Africa reached 3.368 billion CNY, a year-on-year increase of 326.5%, ranking fourth in the province in total volume and second in growth rate. The number of enterprises engaged in trade with Africa reached 95, making Yueyang a standout growth driver in Hunan's trade with Africa.

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

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn