Exhibitions help China, Africa reap rich dividends

The holding of exhibitions is one of the key areas of cooperation between China and Africa that has benefited both sides. The China-Uganda Industrial Capacity Cooperation Exhibition, held in Kampala, Uganda's capital, on Tuesday was one such event.

At the expo, the Romer Environmental Protection (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd. signed a $10,000 sales contract with Uganda Kings School on the opening day. Michael Qiu, sales director of the Shenzhen-based company, and Joseph Kiggundu, group director of the school, signed the agreement for the supply of water purifying equipment.

According to Michael Qiu, who is also the general manager of Romer's Kenya branch, similar deals were signed at exhibitions held in Uganda and Ethiopia last year.

At the first-ever China-Africa Industrial Capacity Cooperation Expo held in Nairobi, in October 2017, Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta had placed orders for 20 sets of Romer's water treatment equipment. The expo was organized by the China Council for Promotion of International Trade.

Nile Machinery Co. Ltd, another Chinese company participating in the Uganda exhibition, also bagged a $10,000 contract from a local mining company for crushing machines. At last year's exhibition, the company had sold limestone crushing equipment worth more than $7 million.

The local companies too were looking at benefiting from the expo.

Daniel Katamujere, managing director of Uganda Katamu Industrial and Engineering Co., said the exhibition has provided a platform for exchange between Chinese and Ugandan enterprises, including investment opportunities and possible areas of cooperation between the two countries in labor training and skills transfer.

Katamujere was looking at Chinese manufacturers of agricultural machinery and vehicles, with the hope of becoming a sales agent in Uganda. He said Chinese agricultural equipment could help Uganda realize higher yields and enable the country to upgrade its industrial capacity.

Mubaraka Nkuutu, a director of Uganda Manufacturers' Association, sees a possibility of cooperation between Uganda Railways Corporation and China Railway Seventh Group Co. Ltd.

He said both sides have been discussing the feasibility of upgrading the century-old Uganda railways, and CRSG has proved a reliable partner.

At present, the trains run at a speed of 40 to 60 kilometers per hour. Nkuutu hopes the upgradation will help the trains to reach a speed of at least 80 kilometers per hour.

According to Bian Peng, managing director of Uganda branch of CRSG, his company has been carrying out renovation and upgradation, besides building municipal roads across the country.

Since 2010, the company has completed 6 such projects with a total value of $250 million. Currently, it is working on a $137 million road project.

He Cailong, president of China International Exhibition Center Group Corporation and the head of Chinese Exhibition delegation, said China has abundant experience in transforming from an agricultural into an industrial nation in recent decades. "China is willing to share its experience, products, technology and industrial capacity with African countries."

"The expo serves as a platform for both Chinese enterprises and local companies to exchange and forge cooperation," He said.

He said these expositions were different from other business and trade events because the purpose is not selling, but sharing. Romer's water treatment equipment illustrates that better.

The company didn't stop its service after delivering the equipment. It shared its technology, such as seawater desalination, reverse osmosis and other water treatment services with its clients.

Last year, it helped their customers to set up 35 water purification plants in Kenya. Another 15 companies have signed the contract with Romer.

Olive Kigongo, the president of Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the exhibition should be used as a platform to deepen business cooperation between China and Uganda.

Zheng Zhuqiang, Chinese ambassador to Uganda, said China is now the country's third largest trade partner and one of the most important development partners. "China's production capacity, capital, equipment and technology will bring new opportunities for Uganda to accelerate its industrialization." said Zheng.

As a demonstration of Uganda's willingness to further cooperate with China, Lawrence Byensi, the acting executive director of Uganda's Investment Authority, said his agency's Strategic Plan 2016-21 places a lot of emphasis on collaboration with China in very strategic intervention areas, such as the development of industrial parks and setting up of science, technology and innovation parks.

liuhongjie@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Global 07/26/2019 page3)