The Africa—Guangdong Business Association (AGBA) and the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies Institute of African Research hosted the “Second Guangdong-Africa Exchange and Cooperation Week and the 20th Anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation” at the Yilin Holiday Hotel in Guangzhou, China. Sub-forum: Guangdong-African Digital Economy Innovation Cooperation.
Ms. Tracy Huo, opening up the forum and giving some guidelines to follow.
As the host of the event, Ms. Tracy Huo opened up the forum with a suggestion of turning off mobile phones for the duration of the event as a sign of respect and invited key figures in the organization of the forum to deliver a speech. ‘‘Time is tight, large amount of information, and plenty of new ideas are the biggest features of this event”. “We took the same flight and officially opened the road to Africa’s future.” Tracy Huo said, “At this moment, whether it is Chinese or African compatriots, we share our destiny.” Nearly a hundred Chinese and African political, commercial and banking circles attended the meeting. The guests responded to this special suggestion.
In the speech given by Mr. Hou Jianxiong, Vice President of the Africa Guangdong Business Association, and Mr. Liu Jisen, Executive Director of the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies Institute of African Studies, elaborated on the efforts made between Guangdong, China and African countries during the pandemic. Africa Guangdong Business Association helped mobilize resources to assist the Chinese government in providing assistance to Africa with relevant materials and donations to help fight the pandemic.
During the fight against the deadly pandemic, economic and trade exchanges between China’s Guangdong Province and Africa never stopped. Mr. Dikko Umaru Radda, Director of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), sent a video speech to speak for local SMEs. It is understood that the Nigerian government has identified big data resources as the key to the development of the country’s digital economy, which will help improve the provision of services, create job opportunities and business opportunities, and thereby improve people’s lives. “We signed a memorandum of cooperation with Africa Guangdong Business Association in early 2019. Both parties have actively and effectively promoted economic trade cooperation between Nigerian and Chinese companies.” At the same time, he encouraged representatives of the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Nigerian innovative entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity.
Mr. Zhang Yunyong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a member of the China-Africa Friendship Group, and the general manager of China Unicom Product Center, gave a keynote speech as a top expert in the digital innovation industry. He gave an in-depth analysis of how the application of 5G technology in China will promote economic development. In the context of the new crown COVID-19 pandemic, 5G is developing rapidly in China, which is the key to providing more employment opportunities for today’s youth and achieving high-quality and efficient development.
Another keynote speaker, Ms. Lineo Kobeli, emphasized the rise of innovation by young leaders in the development of Africa’s digital economy in her speech. Ms. Lineo Kobeli believes: “China (Guangdong Province) needs to cooperate with African youth leaders to promote and advocate to promote digital innovation.” She is one of the co-founders of the African Youth Integration Hub (AYIHUB), a patronage of Africa Guangdong Business Association. The Hub is a diversified organization that focuses on the leadership of African youth and is committed to developing African youth leaders.
In this event, more than 30 business plans were received, three on-site roadshow performers and five online roadshow performers gave short and wonderful project introductions.
The speaker of the project roadshow, Mr. Alain Daniel Yando from Cameroon, introduced a communication application developed for Africans called Dikalo.
Mr. Obeta Innocent from Nigeria introduced his project, which focuses on “Bounty for the brave.” He pointed out that the most successful entrepreneurs are often those who solve problems.
The last keynote speaker is Akio Morita Sanga from Zambia, who brings us the African 3D printing digital ecosystem project.
Due to the pandemic restricting international travel, the Africa Guangdong Business Association called young African entrepreneurs and invited them to propose other valuable project proposals. Among the many business projects received from young African entrepreneurs;
Neza Buy online shopping platform-Presented by Rwenera Jephil (Burundi).
Gylld Technology: Renewable Energy Transportation-Presented by Dr. Amahah Justice (Nigeria).
Zee-bird Live Media Market-Presented by Ntsane Reginald Lepholisa (Lesotho).
DUAPA Africa Projects-Presented by Samuel Ansong (Ghana).
The last part of the meeting was an expert dialogue, presided over by Mr. Wei Xiaolin, President of Guangzhou Cherami China Africa Investment Management Co., Ltd. The focus of the dialogue is to put forward some opinions on each project discussed, how to assist Africa’s unified digital innovation, as well as the problems faced by African countries’ investment in China, and what methods can be adopted in Africa to realize the digital innovation economy. The experts participating in the discussion are: Mr. Liang Jing, Mr. Shen Shuo, Mr. Yang Xubin, Dr. Diouf Mohamed Modou and Mr. Mohammad Ali Omer. The experts issued suggestions on the roadshow project, actively interacted with the guests on the spot, and assessed the measures needed to promote digital innovation in Africa.
Guangzhou Cherami China Africa Investment Management Co., Ltd., as the first investment-oriented company in Guangdong Province focusing on African projects, has invested in many projects in Africa and gained a lot of experience. At the end of the forum, the panel of industry experts said they would support the entrepreneurs in this forum and help them succeed. Investors present at the forum expressed similar interest in one project after another while looking forward to further communication with entrepreneurs.
