Chinanews.com Beijing, January 27th, title: Kenyan Chinese businessmen match up to promote China-Kenya economic and trade cooperation "upward"
Chinanews reporter Wu Kan
"Now many Kenyan businessmen admire China's ability to prevent and control the epidemic, and at the same time have a strong interest in Chinese companies and products. In this context, overseas Chinese and Chinese people should be a "matchmaker" and continue to promote China-Kenya economic and trade cooperation "against the current" "The Kenyan Chinese businessman Gao Wei said in a recent online interview with a reporter from Chinanews.com.
In 2004, Gao Wei, who had just graduated from school, was attracted by the mysterious continent of Africa and decided to settle and develop in Kenya.
A year later, he set up a company to provide Kenyan businessmen with Chinese business information, help them find Chinese manufacturers, participate in trade exhibitions, and help Chinese companies open up the Kenyan market.
A special exhibition under the epidemic
At the end of November last year, the 3rd Kenya International Industry Exhibition and Shandong Export Commodities Kenya Exhibition was held in Nairobi. The exhibition area exceeded 3,000 square meters and there were 115 booths. It is the largest physical exhibition in Kenya in 2020.
At the meeting, 93 Chinese companies connected with Kenyan customers in the "cloud" and reached cooperation intentions in the fields of construction machinery, medical supplies, and auto parts.
Gao Wei and his trading company are the organizers of this exhibition, and they have been preparing for it for more than three months.
"We don't want this exhibition to be a purely online matchmaking event. Only the physical exhibition can better promote the achievement of cooperation intentions." Gao Wei said.
Chinese business representatives cannot come to Kenya, how can the physical exhibition be held?
Gao Wei introduced that they first organized all Chinese exhibitors to post their exhibits to Kenya, and at the same time hired more than 100 local sales representatives in Kenya. After training, they were asked to introduce products from Kenya to Kenyan merchants in front of the booth.
"In this way, Kenyan customers can experience products on site, and then use zoom to connect with Chinese exhibitors in real-time video to communicate cooperation matters." Gao Wei said that this new model has been widely praised by Chinese exhibitors and Kenyan buyers. The Deputy Director of Kenya Investment Authority once praised the exhibition for building a new platform for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
A Kenyan businessman is learning about exhibits from China at the 3rd Kenya International Industry Exhibition.
(Photo provided by interviewee)
Using overseas Chinese as a "bridge" to build a new road for China-Africa cooperation
Gao Wei has been doing the task of bridging China-Kenya economic and trade cooperation for 16 years.
Before the outbreak, Gao Wei and his team members would organize Kenyan businessmen to purchase goods in China every year, participate in large exhibitions such as the Canton Fair, the Service Trade Fair, and the China International Import Expo, and assist them in completing commodity inspections and shipping in the subsequent procurement process. And so on.
"On the other hand, we have also introduced outstanding Chinese companies to Kenya." Gao Wei introduced that in recent years, Kenya is promoting the process of industrialization. We took this as an opportunity to host the Kenya International Industry Exhibition. Since 2019, it has successfully held three sessions. , Has attracted Chinese companies in the fields of construction machinery, energy equipment, electronic communications, agricultural products processing and equipment to build factories in Kenya.
After the outbreak, Kenyan businessmen could not go to China, nor could Chinese companies come to Kenya for business opportunities. Gao Wei began to explore how to establish a new cooperation model under the "new normal" of the epidemic.
In 2020, Gao Wei’s company will not only hold a new exhibition combining online and offline, but also use the office in China to find the products they need for Kenyan customers, and ensure that the latest Chinese products can be obtained in time through direct sourcing at the origin. Ship to Kenya.
"Overseas Chinese have the advantage of being familiar with the local investment environment and investment policies." Gao Wei said that we will make good use of this advantage and continue to find more new cooperation paths for China and Kenya.
Join the Chinese community to help our compatriots fight the epidemic
In addition to running the company, Gao Wei is also actively involved in the work of the overseas Chinese community.
In 2008, he joined the largest local society-Kenya Overseas Chinese Association, and has now become the executive vice president of the association.
“The second wave of the epidemic in Kenya is currently serious. Overseas Chinese and Chinese people are basically sheltering at home.” Gao Wei said that we maintain close contact with local overseas Chinese through social platforms such as WeChat and publish the latest local epidemic on WeChat groups every day. The situation, personal protection precautions, etc., help everyone maintain a stable mind.
According to Gao Wei, we have also established an information disclosure mechanism in the Chinese community. Under the premise of protecting privacy, we will publish relevant information of confirmed Chinese patients through WeChat groups, reminding Chinese who have contact to go for testing as soon as possible to avoid panic.
"Since the outbreak in Kenya, the Chinese community has also donated epidemic prevention and living supplies to local governments, hospitals, schools, etc. many times." Gao Wei said that we have lived in Kenya for so many years and this is our second hometown. In front of us, we should assume our social responsibilities and contribute to Kenya’s fight against the epidemic.
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