Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa, has established broader and deeper connections with China and the world by showcasing its featured products at the China International Import Expo.

As the world's second-largest producer of shea butter, Mali plays a significant role in the global supply chain by contributing nearly 20 percent of the product worldwide. This substantial contribution underscores the crucial importance of shea butter to Mali's economy.

At the sixth CIIE, a skincare brand under the African company Shea Cocoa Bio, specializing in Mali's distinctive skincare offerings such as shea butter, made an appearance at the consumer goods exhibition area. During the expo, the brand's shea butter products garnered substantial interest and were nearly sold out.

Buyers inquire about shea butter products at the booth of Shea Cocoa during the sixth CIIE. [Photo/People's Daily]

The founder, Khalifa Ababacar Sy Diop, mentioned that while Africa and China have relatively little overlap in plant species, many unique plant products from Africa struggle to reach markets outside the continent. However, the popularity of products like shea butter at the CIIE underscored the vast potential and enthusiasm of the Chinese market, even within a nine-square-meter booth, he said.

During the sixth CIIE, Shea Cocoa Bio and its Chinese partners signed cooperation agreements. Khalifa said, "Platforms like the CIIE help small brands like ours access larger markets and take our traditional products global."

Apart from shea butter products, sesame seeds from Mali were also a big hit at the African agricultural products subsection that was established at the sixth CIIE for the first time.

Mali's sesame seeds are showcased at the sixth CIIE. [Photo/cctv.com]

"Sesame seeds from Mali, our main agricultural products showcased at the expo, are of high quality and have high oil content, making them suitable for oil extraction," said a staff member at the subsection.

Through the CIIE, new business opportunities continue to emerge for Mali's sesame seeds. A Malian exhibitor mentioned that within just a few days, several Chinese companies approached them to discuss buying sesame seeds during the expo. "The CIIE has provided us with the opportunity and the platform to open the doors to the Chinese market, and we are confident about our export prospects," said the exhibitor.

In November of this year, the seventh CIIE will return as scheduled. More Malian products are expected to be showcased at this year's expo and achieve new success.

By Zhao Guangmei

Sources: People's Daily, cctv.com, CCTV News app, Cankao Xiaoxi, Farmers' Daily, China Tourism News, ccdi.gov.cn, WeChat account: pdnews