From April 19 to 23, the Yuhua District governmental economic and trade delegation of Changsha, alongside the Changsha municipal governmental delegation, launched a five-day China-Africa economic and trade exchange and bilateral investment promotion campaign in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, and Lagos, its economic hub. During this period, the delegation participated in the "China (Changsha)-Nigeria Investment and Trade Promotion Conference" and China-Nigeria Enterprise Representative Symposium, and visited the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and the Consulate-General of Lagos, the Nigeria's Ministry of Trade and Industrial Investment, the West and Central Africa Representative Office of PowerChina Sinohydro Engineering Bureau 8, Nigeria-Hunan Economic Cooperation Zone and Yuan's Seeds Nigeria Office (Lee's Group) as well as Hunan-headquartered construction firms, trading companies, industrial parks and agricultural incubators settled in Nigeria.

Organized by Changsha Municipal Government, this 19-member delegation comprised officials from Changsha Municipal Bureau of Commerce and Yuhua District Government and enterprise representatives. This marked Changsha's first post-pandemic economic delegation to Africa and a dedicated promotion activity ahead of the 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo.

The Yuhua District CPC Committee and Government attached great importance to this Africa-focused economic and investment promotion event organized by the provincial and municipal authorities, dispatched a delegation led by Wu Pinghui, Standing Committee Member and Executive Deputy District Chief, with senior executives from Hunan Gaoqiao Grand Market, Red Star Industrial Group, and Cofoe Medical Technology Co., Ltd among the key enterprise representatives. The five-day economic and trade matchmaking and investment promotion activities were intensive, pragmatic and efficient, fully aligning with the China-Nigeria economic and trade cooperation arrangement, gained in-depth understanding of the need of enterprises in Nigeria, effectively promoted China-Africa economic and trade exchanges, and laid a solid foundation for the successful convening of the 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo.

On the morning of April 20, the Economic and Trade Delegation successfully hosted the "China (Changsha)-Nigeria Investment and Trade Promotion Conference" in Abuja, Nigeria. Nigeria is one of the guest countries of honor at the 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. As commissioned by Hunan Provincial People's Government, Mr. Kang Zhenlin, Vice Mayor of Changsha Municipal People's Government and Chairman of Changsha Municipal Federation of Industry and Commerce, delivered a presentation on Hunan's provincial profile. The Changsha Municipal Commerce Bureau and the Yuhua District People's Government respectively introduced Changsha's city profile and the development of the Pilot Zone (Core) for In-Depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation. Over 80 representatives attended, including competent Nigerian governmental authorities, business associations, enterprises and Hunan-headquartered companies.

At the meeting, Mr. Wu Pinghui highlighted five key aspects of the FTZ Yuhua Block: unique superimposed advantage, leading industrial foundation in Central China, efficient three-dimensional logistics network, high-quality service system and three-tier linked policy support mechanism; and also introduced four major investment projects to Nigerian enterprises, including the Permanent Pavilion of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, the China-Africa Economic and Trade Digital Industrial Park, Hunan "Market Procurement + Cross-border e-Commerce" New Model Industrial Park and the China-Africa Economic and Trade Headquarters Tower, and sincerely inviting African enterprises to settle therein.

Representatives from Yuhua-headquartered enterprises such as Red Star Industrial Group and Hunan Gaoqiao Grand Market delivered high-impact presentations, introducing their corporate profiles and future development plans. They engaged in in-depth discussions with Nigerian enterprises on further expanding strategic cooperation and mutual benefits, and signed agreements to advance China-Nigeria trade cooperation together. Ms. Liu Ting, General Manager of Hunan Cangjie Overseas Investment Co., Ltd., introduced the establishment and enterprise settlement of the Nigeria-Hunan Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, stating that the Zone will form a "dual-park interaction" with the China-Africa Deep Economic and Trade Cooperation Pilot Zone for mutual promotion and drive between domestic and international markets.

On April 20, the Yuhua District Economic and Trade Delegation specially visited Nigeria's Zeinab Food Limited. The Company's Executive Director, Bogie Odu, introduced the establishment of Nigeria's first overseas warehouse in the e-Commerce Logistics Park of Yuhua District and expressed their intention to expand and strengthen bilateral trade with greater scope and intensity.

It was reported that on April 19, the overseas warehouse for Nigerian export product was established in the e-Commerce Logistics Park of Yuhua District, Changsha. This is Nigeria's first and only overseas warehouse for its export product in East Asia, with an initial area of 4,000 square meters and capable of storing 8,000 metric tons of goods. As a highlight of the pre-event activities for the 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in June, the launch of this overseas warehouse will facilitate bilateral trade between China and Nigeria, promoting the entry of Nigerian cashews, sesame, sorghum, dried ginger and other premium agricultural products into Hunan.

It is informed that in 2022 the FTZ Yuhua Block recorded approximately cny 530 million in import-export volume with Nigeria, accounting for 18.3% of total Africa trade.