African business community looks forward to “One Belt, One Road” investment in Africa

At the third “Going into Africa” ​​roundtable held in Xiamen recently, many African business people were optimistic about the development opportunities that the “One Belt and One Road” initiative would bring to Africa and expected it to promote Chinese companies’ investment in Africa.
At the conference site, business people from Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar and other African countries specially brought agricultural, mining and industrial products with various characteristics to show to the Chinese entrepreneurs attending the conference, hoping to usher in business opportunities.
Kenneth, Executive Secretary-General of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, described the “Belt and Road” as a “great” idea.
In his view, the “Belt and Road Initiative” can not only promote the development of infrastructure in Africa, but also create a large number of job opportunities, drive the economic development of African countries, and enhance the overall industrialization level of Africa.
“In addition, this vision plan will also help us realize the interconnection of talents, industries and technologies,” Kenneth said. African leaders attach great importance to the “One Belt, One Road” plan and have given strong support. China’s business community and enterprises have Investment and business development in Africa will become more convenient.
“Food processing, beverage industry, textile industry, clothing industry, paper and paper products industry, pharmaceutical industry…” Jimal, deputy consul general of the Ethiopian Consulate General in Guangzhou, counted dozens of Chinese entrepreneurs in one breath to welcome Chinese companies. Areas for investment, citing the convenient air and sea routes from Ethiopia to China.
Guimard hopes that the “Belt and Road Initiative” can help Africa find potential investment partners, develop cultural and tourism exchanges, promote trade and economic exchanges, establish sister cities, and strengthen exchanges of high-level official visits and infrastructure construction.
As the organizer of this conference, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Xiamen Committee released the 2014 White Paper on Xiamen Enterprises’ Trade and Investment in Africa at the conference, which also confirmed the enthusiasm of Xiamen enterprises for investing in Africa under the vision of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative.
The white paper revealed that by the end of May 2015, Xiamen companies had invested in 16 projects in Africa, with a total investment of more than US$90 million. In 2014, China’s direct investment in Africa was approximately US$4 billion.
The white paper states that the “One Belt, One Road” vision can not only stimulate overseas investment in China’s related industries through large-scale infrastructure construction on the African continent, but can also improve the overall investment environment of some African countries through the improvement of infrastructure conditions.