Expo benefits both China and Africa in various ways

Mubaraka Nkuutu, the director membership of Uganda Manufacturers Association, sees the cooperation possibility between the Uganda Railways Corporation and China Railway Seventh Group Co Ltd or CRSG. He said the related parties have been discussing the feasibility of upgrading the century-old Uganda railway and CRSG proved a reliable partner and contractor.

According to Bian Peng, the managing director of CRSG's Uganda, his company has been carrying out renovation, upgrading and building of municipal roads projects in the country.

Since 2010, they have completed six such projects, with a total contract value of $250 million. Currently, they are working on another $137 million road project.

He Cailong, president of China International Exhibition Center Group Corporation or CIEC and the head of the Chinese Exhibition delegation, said China has accumulated abundant experience, products and technology in the progress of transforming from an agricultural to an industrial country in the recent decades.

"China is willing to share the right experience, products, technology and industrial capacity with African countries," He said.

That ideology helps to explain why CIEC is eager to promote the series of capacity cooperation expositions, which are also sponsored by CCPIT, China-Africa Development Fund and the host country's relevant partners.

"The exposition serves as a platform for the Chinese enterprises and local professional visitors to exchange and forge cooperation," He said.

He emphasized that this series of expositions are different from other business and trade exhibitions because the utmost purpose is not about selling but sharing. Romer's water treatment equipment better illustrates that.

The service of Romer didn't stop after the equipment's delivery. They also shared their cutting edge technology such as seawater desalination, reverse osmosis and other water treatment services with their clients.

Last year, they helped their customers set up 35 purified water plants in Kenya and another 15 have sealed the contract.

Olive Kigongo, president of Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the expo should be used as a platform to deepen the business cooperation between China and Uganda

Zheng Zhuqiang, the Chinese ambassador to Uganda, said China is now the third largest trade partner and one of the most important development partners to Uganda.

"China's production capacity, capital, equipment and technology will bring new opportunities for Uganda to accelerate its industrialization." Said Zheng.

As a demonstration of Uganda's willingness to further cooperate with China, Lawrence Byensi, the acting executive director of the Uganda's Investment Authority, said his agency's Strategic Plan 2016-21 places a lot of emphasis on collaboration with China in very strategic intervention areas, such as the development of industrial parks, and the setting up of science, technology and innovation parks.