Chinese enterprises attend Zambia's premier agriculture and commercial show

LUSAKA — Chinese enterprises have taken advantage of Zambia's premier agriculture and commercial show to market their products.

The Chinese enterprises are among 95 foreign firms and 718 local firms exhibiting at the 91st Agriculture and Commercial Show in Lusaka, the country's capital which opened its doors to the public on August 2.

It is being held under the theme "Promoting Green Economy."

With the ever-improving bilateral relations between Zambia and China, a number of Chinese enterprises have invested in various sectors of the southern African country's economy.

However, competition is stiff and the Chinese enterprises are devising various ways of cementing their presence such as advertising as well as using events like trade fairs and shows to market their products.

There is no doubt that Chinese investment is having a positive impact on the Zambian economy as seen in the number of Chinese enterprises that have invested in various sectors.

According to Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, the two countries have expanded economic cooperation with an increased investment of close to $4 billion and an annual trade volume of around $3 billion.

There are over 500 Chinese firms operating in Zambia.

"Of course we are here to market our products. We want the Zambia public to know our products and we are taking advantage of this event to help local people know about our bank," Zhu Wenlong, Bank of China (Zambia) Deputy Managing Director told Xinhua in an interview.

Driven by its mission of "Serving Society, Delivering Excellence", the official said the bank was geared toward providing efficient and unmatched services to the Zambian people.

Established in 1997, the Bank of China Zambia is the first wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank of China and also the first Chinese financial institution in Africa.

It provides both corporate and personal services, including credit facility, account services, international settlement, exchange services and Chinese currency services. It launched its RMB notes business in 2011.

Zambian Jihai Agriculture Company Limited, which is involved in all-year round production of mushroom is another firm exhibiting at the event to market various products it was producing in Zambia.

Since its establishment five years ago, the firm has expanded its line of operations and apart from mushroom growing, the firm has opened other ventures such as the JCS Food Town, a center where various agricultural products are being sold not only to the Chinese nationals but local people as well.

The food market has about 79 small scale traders operating there.

According to Faith Mwale, assistant manager in charge of business development and administration, the firm has established a firm print on the Zambian market and was ready to offer various products and services to the people.

Camco Equipment Zambia Limited, a company that markets agricultural and other machinery made by various Chinese firms, is also exhibiting at the event, with the purpose of cementing its footprint on the market.

The firm, that has been in existence in Zambia since 1998, expressed happiness over the response the equipment has received in the country.

"The response has been overwhelming and we are here to ensure that we capture more customers," Josephat Ntolombita, the firm's sales and marketing officer said.

Confucius Institute is also participating at the event as it tries to capture more local people to learn the Chinese language and culture.

According to Professor Li Qingjun, the director of the institute, the growing relations between the two countries was enough reason to help the local people understand the Chinese culture and language.

She said local people who were learning the Chinese language have a greater chance of working for Chinese firm as well as enable easy communication when they go to China for business.

Since its launch in 2010, over 8,000 local people have registered at 18 teaching centers dotted in various parts of the country.

"We hope we can capture more people and entice them to enroll and learn Chinese," she said.

Other companies seen at the event included Chingases Company Limited which has been operating in Zambia since 2007 and is involved in the manufacture of gases such as oxygen, and Topstar, the Chinese firm engaged to provide digital broadcasting migration services.