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Ningbo steps up trade with Africa

Updated:2018-09-17 (chinadaily.com.cn)

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Trade with Africa in Beilun district, Ningbo city, has been constantly increasing in recent years, topping 1.6 billion yuan ($233 million) so far this year, recent statistics have showed. 

The district mainly exports everyday consumer products to Africa, such as clothes, food, beverages and plastic goods, while importing mainly raw materials including minerals and wood pulp. 

"With the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, the infrastructure and economy of Africa will be greatly enhanced, which will boost market demand," said Yin Yongping, sales director of Ningbo Safewell Server Rack MFG, a company in Beilun district. 

"Therefore we are optimistic about the African market and we have already started our business layout on this continent," added Yin. 

The company has expanded its business to Africa since five or six years ago, with its annual rack trade to Africa now exceeding one million dollars and safe deposit box trade being around 1.25 million dollars.

Ningbo Mascube Import and Export Co, another company in the district, exported over 1.46 million dollars of everyday consumer products to Africa last year, up 100 percent year-on-year. 

Geely Auto exported 850 cars to Egypt and other countries along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road last month and saw over 7.28 million dollars of export to Africa last year, up 60 percent year-on-year. 

There are also many emerging companies in the district whose trade with Africa topped 14.56 million dollars in recent years, such as Ningbo Asia Pulp & Paper Co and Huixing Trade Co. 

The prosperous trade is largely supported by the well-developed logistics industry in this region, whose sound warehouse conditions, for example, guarantee the freshness of agricultural products imported from Africa. 

"As the Sino-African relationship gets closer and closer, the African market will be lucrative for Chinese companies," said an official at the business bureau of Beilun district.