African Reactions to CIIE: Countries plan to expand market access in China

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A number of African countries say they plan to increase trade with China. Some of those countries took advantage of last week's China International Import Expo to showcase their products. This comes as Africa's trade volume saw a drastic dip in recent years. Yasser Hakim has more.

Egypt had been a guest of honour at the CIIE and was represented by Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly. Cairo is trying to boost trade relations with China.

YASSER GADALLAH PROF. OF ECONOMICS "The bilateral trade is about $12 billion. Only one billion dollars are Egyptian exports to China and the rest are Chinese exports to Egypt. Obviously, there is a huge imbalance in trade which shows the importance of the CIIE. If we compare with South Africa's trade with China it's about $56 billion and others like Angola as well, but Egypt is only $12 billion."

Egypt and Kenya have been two countries active during the CIIE in Shanghai. Most of their exports to China are agricultural products.

HISHAM EL NAGGAR, VICE PRESIDENT DALTEX EXPORTS "The citrus products are the most successful. Egypt, for example, is the largest exporters of oranges. Egypt and other African countries also export mango, grapes and potatoes. Vegetables including tomatoes are doing very well too."

The Egyptian government had recently floated the Egyptian pound and this could help increase its export capabilities.

HISHAM EL NAGGAR, VICE PRESIDENT DALTEX EXPORTS "Devaluation has increased the cost of production but it has also benefited the Egyptian products because it became cheaper. Now it's competitive in price with good quality. So this will lead to more exports from Egypt and other African countries."

YASSER HAKIM CAIRO EGYPT "The bilateral trade between China and Africa had dropped by 40% from 2014-2017. However, the latest economic reforms in countries like Egypt and Kenya as well as the launch of the CIIE, are expected to raise exports to China and restore the volume of trade with the continent. Yasser Hakim, CGTN, Cairo."