BRI cooperation boosts 'Made in Africa'

"Previously, Uganda's LED lamps were mainly imported, expensive, and difficult to repair. Chinese companies have changed this situation. Now, our company produces about 3 million LED bulbs and tubes annually, sold across Uganda," said local technician Joseph Otim.

Spanning thousands of hectares, the park encompasses a wide range of sectors, including household appliances, daily beauty products, home fabrics, building materials, medicines, smartphones, televisions and automobiles. It reflects the achievements of Sino-African cooperation under the BRI and serves as a model for promoting local industrialization and modernization through incubating local brands.

Among industrial zones of various types in African countries, many were built and operated by Chinese enterprises, such as the Diamniadio International Industrial Platform in Senegal, the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Nigeria, and the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Egypt. Through these zones, African countries can participate more effectively in the global production chain and promote the internationalization of local brands.

ECO-FRIENDLY MANUFACTURING

The BRI encourages ecological and sustainable development, supports African countries in adopting green technologies and clean energy in manufacturing. This not only helps protect Africa's natural environment but also gives African manufacturing a "green manufacturing" label, enhancing its appeal in the global market.

Based in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, Gogo Electric, one of the country's top three electric motorcycle manufacturers, imports lithium-ion batteries from China and assembles electric motorcycles for the local market.

Janos Bisasso, its chief operating officer, said that customers can always bring their used batteries to a battery exchange station, where they can get a fully charged battery at a lower price. Over time, customers may realize that exchanging batteries is less expensive than refueling, encouraging them to choose electric motorcycles.