China trade expo facilitates access for African exporters

When Gizat Worku, general manager of the Ethiopian Coffee Exporters Association, arrived in Shanghai for the first China International Import Expo in 2018, the scale of the event left a lasting impression.

"The size of the CIIE convention center is beyond my comprehension," he said. "I was overwhelmed by the sheer size of the venue."

Equally striking, he said, has been the pace at which Ethiopian coffee exports to China have expanded since a handful of samples made their debut at that first expo.

Ethiopia shipped about 4,000 metric tons of coffee to China in 2018. By 2024, exports had surged to 34,300 tons — jumping more than eightfold in six years, Worku said.

"With the help of various export promotion platforms such as the CIIE, our coffee has taken an increasing share in the Chinese market," he said. "Eight years ago, China was probably only the seventh — or eighth-biggest market for Ethiopian coffee, but last year it was already the third-largest."

With the ninth CIIE set to open in Shanghai in November, Worku is already preparing to organize Ethiopian producers for business matchmaking opportunities at the expo.

Meanwhile, with China's zero-tariff policy due to take effect on May 1, Worku is even more optimistic about future growth, as the measure is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Ethiopian coffee in the Chinese market.

Since its inception in 2018, the CIIE — the world's first national-level exposition dedicated to imports — has been held for eight consecutive years, attracting participants from more than 180 countries, regions and international organizations. Cumulative intended deals have exceeded $580 billion, said Song Shangzhe, deputy director-general of the CIIE Bureau.

Speaking at a side event of the inaugural China-Africa Entrepreneurs Summit in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, Song said 51 African countries have taken part across the eight editions, with Egypt, South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania and Nigeria serving as guest countries of honor.

At the eighth CIIE last year, dedicated exhibition areas were set up for least developed countries, while the African products section was further expanded, he said. Support measures included complimentary booths and transportation assistance, he added.

In addition to Ethiopian coffee, a growing range of high-quality African products has entered the Chinese market through the expo.

Pineapples from Benin, which debuted at the seventh CIIE, quickly gained popularity. To facilitate exports, Chinese and Beninese authorities worked to resolve technical barriers, enabling the first shipment of fresh pineapples to reach China in December.

Jiang Feng, head of China's mission to the African Union, said the CIIE has grown into an important bridge linking African countries with the Chinese market, and African participation has grown steadily year-by-year.

"This momentum reflects not only growing trade volumes, but also Africa's remarkable development potential, industrial competitiveness and huge influence," Jiang said.

"Beyond trade in goods, the CIIE promotes market connectivity, industrial collaboration and development empowerment," he said.

"It aligns closely with the AU Agenda 2063 and strongly supports Africa's pursuit of industrialization, agricultural modernization and economic diversification."

While offering African products a valuable export route, the CIIE also brings in technologies, equipment, investment and management expertise, helping Africa turn its resource endowments into industrial strengths, he added.