Jiaxing enterprises expand into Africa
Egyptian employees are trained in a workshop in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo/jiaxingren.com]
From Sept 4 to 6, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Beijing highlighted the growing ties between China and Africa.
Jiaxing enterprises have also strengthened their connections with Africa, exporting products and establishing factories in countries such as Egypt, South Africa, and Ethiopia.
From January to July this year, Jiaxing's exports to Africa reached 10.62 billion yuan (1.49 billion), a 12.6-percent increase year-on-year.
At Haining Maqiao Warp Knitting Industrial Park, several Egyptian employees were trained at Lijialong Pile Weather Strip Co Ltd. After mastering the production techniques, they will return to Egypt to work at Lijialong's new factory. Lijialong was founded in 1999 and entered the African market 20 years ago, selling door and window seals worth 150 million yuan on the continent.
China Jushi, a global fiberglass giant, was faced with European Union tariffs in 2009, prompting it to establish a factory in Egypt. Today, Jushi's Egyptian factory is its lowest-cost producer, supplying products to the EU, Middle East, Turkiye, India, and the United States. This move has also generated significant foreign exchange revenue and provided stable income for local families.
Zhenshi Holding Group, another Jiaxing company, has also invested in Egypt, producing fiberglass fabrics for wind power. Its Egyptian factory has become a crucial base for responding to trade frictions and supporting the global green energy transition.
In the future, Jiaxing enterprises will continue to seize opportunities in Africa, contributing to local economies and global markets.