Cai Dianwei, chairman of Hunan Construction Investment Group Co., Ltd. (HCIG), led a team to participate in the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Africa (Kenya) 2024 from May 8 to May 10 local time in Kenya. 

They attended the opening ceremony of the Conference on China-Africa Investment and Trade Promotion and Cooperation & Kenya International Investment Conference, the Symposium of Hunan Entrepreneurs in East Africa and the experience exchange conference of provincial state-owned enterprises entering Africa for integrated development. They also visited the chairman of the Kenya Civil Aviation Administration to further expand the market in Kenya. 

The Conference on China-Africa Investment and Trade Promotion and Cooperation & Kenya International Investment Conference was held in Nairobi, capital of Kenya on the morning of May 9. 

Cao Zhiqiang, vice governor of Hunan province, Rebecca Miano, cabinet secretary of the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry of Kenya, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. 

Cai Dianwei was invited to make a promotional speech at the opening ceremony. 

Since 2019, the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) has been successfully held for three sessions in Changsha, capital of Hunan province. This event is the first high-level and large-scale exhibition event held by the Expo in Africa, with the theme of “working together to create a better future”. 

Cao Zhiqiang said that through CAETE and a pioneering zone for in-depth China-Africa trade and economic cooperation, Hunan is working to build an innovative area for in-depth economic and trade cooperation with Africa, a bearing area for industrial chain cooperation with Africa, and a welcoming hall for economic and trade exchanges and cooperation with Africa. It will actively promote the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, implement relevant measures of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and contribute more to building a higher-level a China-Africa community with a shared future. 

In his speech, Cai Dianwei briefly introduced HCIG and its business in Africa. He said, “Hunan enterprises have obtained a better cooperation platform with Africa through CAETE and the implementation plan for the pioneering zone for in-depth China-Africa trade and economic cooperation. Kenya is the first stop of the event to enter Africa, and we look forward to and have confidence in improving cooperation with Kenya to a new level. We also hope to deepen cooperation with Kenya in international engineering and trade, and continue to receive more support and assistance in China-Kenya economic and trade cooperation, in a bid to promote the development of economy and trade between China and Africa. 

Cao Zhiqiang organized the Symposium of Hunan Entrepreneurs in East Africa, with Cai Dianwei and representatives from Hunan chambers of commerce from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia and other countries, as well as Chinese funded enterprises, business associations, and outstanding enterprises in East Africa, present.

Cao Zhiqiang expressed his sincere respect for and gratitude to those from all walks of life who have devoted themselves to the China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, and thanked the heads of chambers of commerce for their achievements in African countries and their contributions to Hunan Province. 

He hoped that all enterprises and outstanding entrepreneurs would continue to deepen economic and trade exchanges with Africa and make greater contributions to China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.

Cai Dianwei and his delegation visited the chairman of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) on the morning of May 8. 

During the visit, the chairman of the KCCA warmly welcomed Cai and his delegation, and fully affirmed the development and achievements of HCIG in Africa. He noted that HCIG is a Chinese enterprise with rich experience and excellent strength, and he sincerely hoped that HCIG could participate in the construction of New Eldoret International Airport project to build it into a modern and efficient international airport. 

Cai Dianwei looked forward to further strengthening cooperation with the KCAA to jointly promote the construction of such projects in Kenya, and make contributions to Kenya’s infrastructure and civil aviation development. 

This visit has laid a good foundation for future cooperation between the two sides. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation and work together to promote the smooth implementation of these projects. They are looking forward to the positive changes these cooperation projects will bring to Kenya in the future.

Mao Yuxin, deputy director of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Hunan Provincial People’s Government, presided over a symposium on the development of African business for provincial state-owned enterprises in Nairobi, Kenya on the afternoon of May 8. 

Mao stressed that they would take multiple measures to deepen the economic and trade work of provincial state-owned enterprises with Africa, establish alliances, and join hands to go global. They will strictly control risks and keep stable progress in economic and trade activities, gather resources to expand and strengthen the economic and trade sector, optimize assessments and fully support economic and trade with Africa. They will also contribute the strength of state-owned assets and enterprises to promote Hunan’s economic and trade cooperation with Africa to achieve greater results. 

Cai Dianwei said that now, the Belt and Road Initiative has ushered in another decade, and there must be a broader space and unlimited prospects for economic and trade cooperation with Africa, especially with Kenya. HCIG is hopeful and confident to push its cooperation with Kenya to a new height, and promote the provincial state-owned regulatory enterprises to achieve new results in economic and trade cooperation with Africa to a new level.