By Ye Shuijin
The “Belt and Road Initiative” is an international cooperation initiative proposed by President Xi in 2013. Its core value is to enhance all-around connectivity through infrastructure construction. It aims to explore new driving force for world economic growth, and to create a new platform for international economic cooperation.
China-Africa cooperation is a concrete practice of the Belt and Road Initiative. In the past few years, under the policy guidance of the “Ten Cooperation Plan” and the “Eight Actions” of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China-Africa Cooperation has made a lot of achievements in building the Belt and Road. In April this year, the 2nd Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit Forum clearly defined the goal of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, promoting a global partnership of connectivity, and improving the cooperation framework.
This marks the beginning of a new phase of the Belt and Road Initiative and also plans a blueprint for high-quality BRI cooperation between Nigeria and China. It also sets higher standards and requirements for our Chinese companies in Africa.
In 2019, the 48th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China, China-Nigeria relations have also risen to a comprehensive strategic partnership. As the largest economy and the first populous country in Africa, Nigeria’s own development and cooperation with China are of vital importance to promoting China-Africa cooperation and building the Belt and Road.
In 2017, the Nigerian government proposed the economic recovery plan ERGP in response to the first economic recession in the past 20 years. ERGP aims to achieve sustainable and high-quality development by strengthening infrastructure, expanding financing channels, promoting private sector development, and focusing on solving the problems of energy, electricity, foreign exchange shortage, unfriendly business environment and lack of technology, which hinder development, ERGP is the choice of the Nigerian government and people to meet the needs of social development. It is closely aligned with the policy direction of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The convergence of this demand also means that in many fields, such as political exchanges, infrastructure construction, industrial cooperation, and financial interoperability, China-Nigeria cooperation has huge opportunities and potential.
If the China-Nigeria cooperation is compared to a great ship in the rough sea, ERGP, FOCAC, and BRI is the compass, the enterprises of the two countries are the driving engines that push this great ship through the storm. As the President of the China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria, the Vice President of CGCOC Group, and the Managing Director of CGC Nigeria Ltd, I would like to share my opinions and ideas here.
Since its establishment in July 2011, the China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria has received strong supports from Chinese Embassy and Consulates in Nigeria as well as the Nigerian governments at all levels. It now has 163 members covering oil and gas, infrastructure, communication, manufacture, trade, agriculture, mining, finance, Internet and other fields.
In addition, the branches specializing in power, building materials, automotive, and other industries have been established, as well as regional branches like Kano branch. Through hard work of all chamber members, abundant accomplishments have been achieved in advancing China-Africa cooperation and promoting the common development of China and Nigeria. Most of accomplishments have been made in the following respects.
In infrastructure, there are 33 enterprises under China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria, such as CGC NIG LTD, CCECC, China Harbour Engineering Company NIG LTD, and Power China. A series of significant projects have been built by these companies, like Abuja–Kaduna Railway constructed by CCECC which is the first modern railway with Chinese technology and standards in Africa , Abuja light railway which is also the first urban railway in West Africa, Lekki deep sea port invested and constructed by China Harbour which is the largest port in west Africa, and Zungeru Hydropower Plant built by China Power which is the largest hydropower plant in Nigeria.
In industry, there are 56 manufacturing enterprises under the Chamber, such as Li Group, Dong Group, Lifemate NIG LTD and Ruyi Group, and platform enterprises like Lekki Free Trade Zone and Guangdong Free Trade Zone in Ogun State. The products of these enterprises including household appliances, textiles, building materials, automobiles, food and medicine, and others.
In other fields, there are 74 enterprises running businesses in agriculture, mining, energy, technology and trade under the Chamber. Among these, the agricultural enterprises have built sugar refineries and cassava alcohol pants in Nigeria. And supported by Chinese and Nigeria Government, Abuja High-Tech Agricultural Industrial Park has been invested, constructed and now operated by Green Agriculture West Africa Ltd. In addition, some similar projects have been built or ongoing by these enterprises.
In the principle of active cooperation and win-win benefit, a group of responsible and emotional enterprises has been created in the process of China-Nigeria cooperation.
CGC Nigeria Ltd, as the forerunner of China-Nigeria cooperation, has a history of nearly 40 years in Nigeria. The company has made a lot of contributions in Nigeria’s roads, bridges, water, housing and other areas of infrastructure construction, as well as agriculture, mining, industrialization and other fields. CGCOC GROUP has also developed from a single project construction to four business fields, including consulting planning, investment operation, overseas infrastructure construction, and logistics trade. CGCOC GROUP has formed three regional centers in East Africa, Central Africa and West Africa, covering 27 countries, accounting for 50 percent of all African countries.
Strengthening China-Africa cooperation, building Belt and Road Initiative and realizing the ERGP strategic goals are opportunities for the development of the two countries and the development of enterprises in two countries.
The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria will continue to actively cooperate with Nigerian governments and institutions, expand the breadth and depth of cooperation, promote cooperation between member enterprises and the Nigerian government, promote cooperation among member enterprises and Nigerian enterprises, and promote the integration of member enterprises business with the Nigerian market.
CGC Nigeria Ltd. will also continue to work with member enterprises, practice the spirit of China-Africa Cooperation Forum, work with the Nigerian people, build “Belt and Road Initiative” and realize the ERGP strategic goals.
Challenges and opportunities coexist forever. Nowadays, the international situation is complex and changeable, the oil price fluctuates violently, the trade friction is increasing day by day, and the external environment of China-Nigeria cooperation is facing various challenges. Nigerian economy just emerged from weakness, it’s still unstable and facing some difficulties in internal conditions. We know that the only correct choice for facing the stormy waves in the sea is to adjust the bow and face the storm. As the power engine of great ship of China-Nigeria cooperation, enterprises should keep up with the policy guidance, work hard and face the difficulties.
As a Chinese entrepreneur who has worked in Nigeria for more than a decade, I deeply realize the importance of policy orientation to the development of enterprises in both countries. It is good that there are many platforms like ABC Roundtable which are constantly promoting political and policy exchanges between the two governments, the specific policies of China-Nigeria cooperation can keep pace with the times and be feasible, the enterprises of the two countries can maintain the correct course.
On behalf of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria, on behalf of CGC Nigeria Limited, on behalf of Chinese entrepreneurs in Nigeria, I would like to express my sincere thanks to ABC Roundtable once again.
I believe that with the joint efforts of the two governments, enterprises and people, there is a bright future for China-Nigeria cooperation, and the revitalization of Nigeria will certainly be realized. I believe that we are all going higher to a next level and we will make Nigeria great again.
