Fishery provides new jobs, expansion in West Africa

[Photo/China Daily]

She has worked in the quality control department for about six months, learning how to examine the quality of the fish.

"I am quite satisfied with my job since I can buy goods for my family and raise my children with my own salary," she said.

Chen said respect for local customs is important for localization.

The company has sponsored a marathon and gave employees fish on Eid al-Fitr, an important three-day holiday in the Islamic calendar that follows Ramadan, a month-long festival when Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset.

Hongdong is currently working on building a mosque opposite one of its plants, to provide broader space for religious activities, Chen said.

He added the company plans to establish three to five such bases in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia in the following three to five years.

Fujian, where Hongdong is based, generated 170.9 billion yuan in foreign trade with countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative in the first half of 2017, up 12.8 percent year-on-year, according to statistics released by Xiamen customs in July.