STORY: Chinese entrepreneurs seek larger presence in Kenyan market through trade event
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 15, 2023
DATELINE: Nov. 17, 2023
LENGTH: 00:04:52
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of KICC exhibition
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): LIAO XUHUI, Chairman of Amanbo
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): GEORGE GATHURA, Retailer
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): QIU FAN, Kenya Country Director for Romer

STORYLINE:

China Trade Week opened its doors to the public Wednesday in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

More than 50 Chinese firms participate in the three-day event where they are showcasing different products including electronics, textiles, solar, construction and agricultural equipment.

Liao Xuhui, the chairman of Amanbo, a Chinese e-commerce platform, explained to visitors how the Amanbo online platform can facilitate seamless transactions between Chinese manufacturers of diverse consumer goods and local retailers.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): LIAO XUHUI, Chairman of Amanbo
"We are a platform, in our business model, when we talk about e-commerce, it just focuses online. But we are an OSO e-commerce platform because you know, when we talk about online, if you just focus online in African countries, it's not enough, as we all know most B2B businesses in African countries now depend on offline (activities). So how to use digital tools and technology to improve offline business, that's why we have innovated this model called OSO. The first O is online, and the second O is offline and S is solution. So we are making a total solution, online, offline and solution, full channel."

Liao said that since entering the Kenyan market in 2014, Amanbo has enhanced digital commerce in the country, benefiting local startups and their clients. As an e-commerce platform, Amanbo has been connecting buyers and sellers of various Chinese manufactured products like solar solutions, designer wear and electronics, cutting down transaction costs and improving efficiency, Liao said.

George Gathura, a middle-aged spare parts dealer in downtown Nairobi, learned about the benefits of using a digital platform to source products from China at the Amanbo exhibition stall.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): GEORGE GATHURA, Retailer
"One, they are cheap, it's affordable and we have experienced some kind of flexibility that is really working for us because you can send a sample and they can take it to your liking."

"I look forward to engaging Chinese manufacturers through online platforms and importing spare parts directly from them. That route will enable me to grow the business," Gathura said.

Outside the exhibition hall, a sizable crowd was attracted to the automated water service station displayed by Romer Tech Limited, a Chinese manufacturer of water treatment solutions.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): QIU FAN, Kenya Country Director for Romer Environmental Protection
"We're looking for some more customers and we also want to bring people this technology to let more people get involved in water and also our soda business to let them make money and introduce this machine to many people, this business mode."

"We have clients including small business owners across the country. We sell and install the water service station. The machine can purify salty water, store over 150 liters of the commodity and dispense it using mobile money platforms," said Qiu, adding that the water automated teller machine (ATM) has been in the Kenyan market for the last two years.

He said that during the China Trade Week, Romer aims to secure more customers while showcasing its latest water purification and dispensing technology.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)