Hunan Province is rapidly solidifying its position as China’s central hub for African trade relations, with African specialty products becoming increasingly integrated into local consumption patterns. As the Lunar New Year approaches, households across Hunan are stocking celebration supplies featuring South African wines and Tanzanian nuts among other African commodities.
The province has launched extensive promotional activities since January 23rd, showcasing nearly 300 products from over a dozen African nations through pop-up events in multiple cities including Yiyang and Yueyang. At the permanent exhibition hall of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) in provincial capital Changsha, consumers can explore a comprehensive range of African goods spanning food, beverages, and skincare products.
Hunan’s strategic importance in China-Africa trade relations is demonstrated by impressive economic metrics. According to the Hunan Department of Commerce, the province recorded 58 billion yuan ($8.36 billion) in trade with African nations last year, maintaining its leading position in central and western China for seven consecutive years. The province has hosted four editions of the CAETE, significantly strengthening its role in facilitating cross-continental commerce.
Shen Yumou, head of the Hunan Department of Commerce, revealed during the ongoing provincial legislative session that more than 3,000 Hunan-based enterprises currently operate across 111 countries and regions, indicating the province’s extensive global business footprint.
Changsha, internationally recognized as the ‘construction machinery capital,’ has pioneered innovative export standards for second-hand engineering equipment. The city addressed previous challenges with inconsistent international regulations by establishing national-first class standards for remanufactured and repaired machinery.
Tan Haoran, deputy director of the administrative office of the China (Hunan) Pilot Free Trade Zone, explained: ‘To address these challenges, we released standards for the export of remanufactured and repaired engineering machinery—a national first.’ These standards have significantly enhanced product quality and export competitiveness, resulting in over 3 billion yuan worth of remanufactured equipment exported from Hunan globally during the past two years.