China, South Africa launch e-commerce training program

The South Africa Chinese Culture and International Exchange Center has launched a program combining Chinese and e-commerce education, the first time the two countries have carried out an e-commerce training program together.

According to Li Xudong, education counselor for the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, China boasts the world's best e-commerce education, training and practice platform. As e-commerce brings flexible working opportunities, the training program is expected to create more jobs for young people in South Africa.

For Duan Peng, assistant president of Jiangsu Zhongqi Education Group, many Chinese enterprises will expand in Africa, betting on the huge potential of the market. However, a lack of understanding of local markets and talent pose challenges for those enterprises, hence the program.

Statistics from the General Administration of Customs show bilateral trade between China and Africa hit $254.3 billion in 2021, up 35.3 percent year-on-year with South Africa contributing one fifth of the total. Bilateral trade between China and South Africa jumped by 50.7 percent year-on-year in 2021.