In recent years, the global layout of my country’s textile industry has been accelerating. In this process, Africa has become a key area for the overseas layout of Chinese textile companies with its advantages in resources, labor, policies and consumption potential. At the same time, Africa Some people in the industry pointed out that the weak industrial foundation and incomplete textile industry chain are practical challenges to the development of the textile industry in Africa.
With obvious comprehensive advantages, Africa has become a “potential stock” for China’s textile overseas investment
The reporter learned that more and more Chinese textile companies are now focusing on overseas investment in Africa. Xu Yingxin, vice president of the China National Textile and Apparel Federation and executive vice president of the Textile Industry Branch of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said at the African Textile Industry Special Dialogue at the 2018 China International Textile Fabrics and Accessories (Autumn and Winter) Expo that, comprehensively, , Africa has obvious comparative advantages in developing the textile industry. First, it has a large young labor force with low prices; second, some countries have advantages in energy and raw materials; third, it has an external trade environment with preferential market access to Europe and the United States; fourth, countries The preferential incentive policies introduced continue to create a favorable business environment; fifth, it has huge consumer market potential; sixth, it has the possibility of using clothing to drive the development of the entire textile industry chain.
However, Africa is not a single market, and each country has different comparative advantages. Taking Ethiopia as an example, its vigorous construction of industrial parks has become the biggest contributor to attracting overseas investment projects. According to Adamu Assefa Mukura, Deputy Consul General of the Ethiopian Consulate in Shanghai, the Ethiopian government attaches great importance to the development of industrial parks. There are currently 8 industrial parks in the country. The industrial planning includes textiles, printing and dyeing, garments, etc. The construction of the parks follows the principles of export promotion, sustainability, vertical integration, skills Development and other principles, many Chinese companies have already settled in the area.
Wuxi Yimian Textile Group Co., Ltd. is one of the Chinese companies that has settled in. According to Zhou Yejun, chairman of the company, Wuxi Yimian began to pay attention to the investment environment in Africa many years ago. After many investigations, it comprehensively considered the climate, Factors such as transportation, human resources, energy, and infrastructure ultimately led to the decision to invest and build a factory in Dire Dawa Industrial Park in Ethiopia. “The development of industrial parks is a new development model in Ethiopia, and it is also based on China’s relatively successful development model. The industrial park we came to in Ethiopia is very close to China’s development model, and it is easy to accept such a development method.” Zhou Yejun say.
Inner Mongolia Luwang Cashmere Co., Ltd., which has invested and developed in Africa for 20 years, is also full of confidence in the economic cooperation between China and Africa. “Africa is very attractive to private enterprises, and there is huge room for economic development. The economies of China and Africa are very complementary, and they are bringing their respective advantages together and giving full play to them. This kind of cooperation with complementary advantages will provide a huge impetus for the development of both parties. It will also make a huge contribution to global economic development.” Zheng Haosheng, chairman of Inner Mongolia Luwang Cashmere Co., Ltd., said so.
The industrial base is weak and the development of the textile industry in Africa should focus on the entire industry chain
“The value chain of Africa’s textile industry is highly fragmented, and industrial development is mainly driven by foreign direct investment.” In Xu Yingxin’s view, Africa still needs to face some challenges in developing the textile industry. Africa has not yet formed a complete textile industry chain. Although some countries are rich in raw materials such as cotton, most African countries have to import large quantities of textile accessories and then produce and process finished products such as clothing. This results in a long product manufacturing cycle and cannot meet strict requirements. Quick response to orders. At the same time, the added value of African textile processing products is low, which also shows Africa’s weak textile industry production capacity.
Zhou Yejun also mentioned that the incomplete industrial chain, unstable water and electricity quality, cumbersome customs clearance of materials, and high cost of port transportation are the current challenges for the company’s investment in Dire Dawa Industrial Park in Ethiopia.
In this regard, Adamu Assefa Mukura said that in response to these problems, the Ethiopian government is solving these problems by strengthening infrastructure construction and establishing cooperative relations with relevant ports. (Title: Africa has become a key area for Chinese textile enterprises to “go global” and the construction of the entire industry chain needs to be strengthened)
