Africa Reimagined

Policy Brief: FOCAC 8 At 1 – What Has Changed in Africa-China Trade so far?

The 8th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was recently held in Dakar, Senegal, bringing together high-level officials from China and African countries to discuss cooperation in various areas, including trade facilitation. A new report by Development Reimagined analyzes the trade facilitation initiatives announced at FOCAC 8 and assesses their potential impact.  The report highlights a …

Policy Brief: FOCAC 8 At 1 – What Has Changed in Africa-China Trade so far? Read More »

Expert View: 3 Key Trends in the Chinese Market for 2023

1. The removal of the Covid-19 policy and measures to boost consumption means more market opportunities for African business The Chinese government officially announced that it would downgrade its controversial “Zero-Covid Policy” on December 26, 2022. After waves of infections across the country due to the population’s lack of exposure to the virus, the first …

Expert View: 3 Key Trends in the Chinese Market for 2023 Read More »

Expert View: What impact might China’s 20th National Congress have on Africa-China business and trade?

In October, the world’s attention was firmly placed on China, as the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) commenced. Not only is the CPC among the most important events in China’s political system (it decides the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)) for the next five years, and in turn, …

Expert View: What impact might China’s 20th National Congress have on Africa-China business and trade? Read More »

Expert view: What is Jing Dong (JD) and why is it relevant for African brands in China?

What is JD? Founded in 2004, JD is now one China’s biggest and most trusted e-commerce platforms. It was originally founded as a website but is now accessed through its mobile app, as Chinese consumers almost solely use apps to shop online. JD started out as an e-commerce platform for primarily digital devices. Since 2010, …

Expert view: What is Jing Dong (JD) and why is it relevant for African brands in China? Read More »

Expert view: Recent Trends For African Brands in China and Japan

Three (3) emerging consumer trends in China and Japan that are boosting demand for African products Last month, we shared our interview with Hara Yukari, which promotes and sells African brands and their products in Japan. Based on Africa Reimagined’s own work supporting African brands access the Chinese market, we were keen to learn about …

Expert view: Recent Trends For African Brands in China and Japan Read More »

Event: DR partners with Kiliselect to open an “Africa Reimagined” e-commerce store for luxury African brands

Africa Reimagined is partnering with the Kiliselect e-commerce store in China to open an “Africa Reimagined” section for high-end African brands on the e-commerce store. The partnership between Africa Reimagined and Kiliselect and the onboarding of the high-end African brands onto the e-commerce store will start from late September 2022. Africa Reimagined is a Beijing-based …

Event: DR partners with Kiliselect to open an “Africa Reimagined” e-commerce store for luxury African brands Read More »

Expert View: What are WeChat Stores and how are they connecting foreign brands with the Chinese market?

Created by Internet giant Tencent, Wechat is the most popular instant messaging software in China, with 1,200 million users around the world and more than 1,000 million are in China, which means this app exists in almost every mobile phone in China. Wechat is more than an app for communication, it is an ecosystem. With …

Expert View: What are WeChat Stores and how are they connecting foreign brands with the Chinese market? Read More »

Expert view: ‘Proudly from Africa’ – the project that is putting African brands centre stage of Japan’s luxury market

“I think of myself as a “Kuroko” – the stagehands who dress in black and support the dolls in Japanese puppet kabuki theatre. My passion is to assist African and Japanese entrepreneurs in achieving their goals and delivering better value, but my role is always behind the scenes, and the spotlight is always where it …

Expert view: ‘Proudly from Africa’ – the project that is putting African brands centre stage of Japan’s luxury market Read More »

Interview: Meet Yenae – a high-end African brand that is breaking the Chinese market

Despite reports on Covid-19-induced economic slowdowns in China, China’s middle-class and their purchasing power is continuing to grow at a rapid rate. Today, China is home to more than 40 percent of the global wealth middle class. Furthermore, these middle-class consumers are continuously looking out for new and unique foreign luxury brands to help them stand …

Interview: Meet Yenae – a high-end African brand that is breaking the Chinese market Read More »

Why African Coffee Producers Should Sell Their Coffee in China and How to Do It

China is the world’s second-largest market. Therefore, any country looking to increase its export footprint is an important market to enter and gain significant market share. In the last decade, China has seen a rapid increase in coffee consumption. While China’s hot beverage consumption has historically been dominated by tea, coffee consumption has grown in …

Why African Coffee Producers Should Sell Their Coffee in China and How to Do It Read More »

Meet the high-end African brands who are breaking the Chiense market – Kangumamu AGRO

It is no secret that coffee has exploded in popularity in China, despite being a traditionally tea drinking country. Although most coffee consumed in China comes from Vietnam and Malaysia, as well as China itself, African coffee is becoming increasingly popular amongst Chinese consumers. For example, the volume of Ethiopia’s coffee exports to China is …

Meet the high-end African brands who are breaking the Chiense market – Kangumamu AGRO Read More »

African Fashion Week shows that are putting African fashion brands on the map – including in China

Last week, hundreds of fashion enthusiasts gathered in Kigali for the eagerly awaited Kigali Fashion Week. Known for its thriving fashion industry that has produced fashion brands that are becoming globally renowned such as Haute Baso and Moshions, Rwanda has become an increasingly important hub for African fashion. Kigali Fashion Week, which is held twice …

African Fashion Week shows that are putting African fashion brands on the map – including in China Read More »

The rise of the online promotional shopping festival for African products in China

Last month, Africa Reimagined took part in a promotional shopping festival for African products in China called the: “4th Brand and Quality Online Shopping Festival and Quality African Products Online Shopping Festival.” From April 28th to May 12th, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), jointly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, launched the promotional shopping …

The rise of the online promotional shopping festival for African products in China Read More »

Why is China’s e-commerce market such a big deal and how can African brands take advantage of it?

The simple answer as to why China’s e-commerce market is such a big deal is that China has the world largest and most diverse e-commerce market. In 2021, China’s e-commerce market took up more than half of the global online sales! E-commerce retail sales also reached a whopping 13.1 trillion yuan (about 2.06 trillion USD) …

Why is China’s e-commerce market such a big deal and how can African brands take advantage of it? Read More »

Africa Reimagined Supports The 4th Brand And Quality Online Shopping Festival And Quality African Products Online Shopping Festival

Africa Reimagined is supporting a promotional shopping festival for African products in China that is taking place from April 28 till May 12. More than 100,000 African brands will be showcased on over 300 e-commerce platforms during the: “4th Brand and Quality Online Shopping Festival and Quality African Products Online Shopping Festival.” The event is …

Africa Reimagined Supports The 4th Brand And Quality Online Shopping Festival And Quality African Products Online Shopping Festival Read More »

geoGraphical Indications An Opportunity For Africa To Add Value To Exports

Disclaimer: This article is a revised version of Development Reimagined’s article published in 2020 in the wake of the 2020 UK-Investment Summit Trade between Africa and China rose to a record high in 2022, rising by 35% from 2020 to $254 billion in 2022. However, this was mainly due to an increase in Chinese exports …

geoGraphical Indications An Opportunity For Africa To Add Value To Exports Read More »

What is FOCAC8 and what does it mean for Africa-China trade and African-based businesses?

On November 29th, the Africa Reimagined  team (some in Dakar and some in China) were eagerly awaiting President Xi Jinping’s speech at the opening ceremony of the eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC8) in Dakar, Senegal. Why? President Xi’s speech laid out the key agendas that would shape the Africa-China relationship …

What is FOCAC8 and what does it mean for Africa-China trade and African-based businesses? Read More »

Designed to Disrupt 2.0. Africa Reimagined at The Second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo

Over the past few decades, it has become abundantly clear that ‘aid’ is not the only answer to Africa’s development. Solving economic and social challenges requires more than just financial aid, with an urgent need for structural change – in trade, investment and people. Since the late 2000s, China has become an increasingly prominent development partner …

Designed to Disrupt 2.0. Africa Reimagined at The Second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo Read More »

Designed to Disrupt 2.0: Africa Reimagined welcomes record crowds at the second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo

Over the past few decades, it has become abundantly clear that ‘aid’ is not the only answer to Africa’s development. Solving economic and social challenges requires more than just financial aid, with an urgent need for structural change – in trade, investment and people. Since the late 2000s, China has become an increasingly prominent development partner for many African …

Designed to Disrupt 2.0: Africa Reimagined welcomes record crowds at the second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo Read More »

Introducing Yenaé

Yenaé is one of the 10 bespoke, sustainable African brands we are representing at the upcoming China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha during September 2021. Stay tuned for more information about the other unique African brands from a variety of industries which we will be showcasing https://developmentreimagined.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Yenae-Gemstones.mp4 Introducing Yenaé Yenaé is one of the 10 bespoke, …

Introducing Yenaé Read More »

Introducing Artclub and Friends

ARTCLUB AND FRIENDS is one of the 10 bespoke, sustainable African brands we are representing at the upcoming China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha during September 2021. Stay tuned for more information about the other unique African brands from a variety of industries which we will be showcasing Introducing Artclub and Friends Artclub and Friends …

Introducing Artclub and Friends Read More »

Can Ugandan Coffee Be the Next “Coffee Success” Story in China?

The coffee industry in China and Uganda are two very different stories. Here in Beijing, coffee shops are springing up all the time. Indeed, from 2008 to 2018, China’s coffee consumption increased by a whopping 1032%! The younger Chinese generation is the driving force behind this new ‘coffee culture’ demand. With their higher disposable incomes and acute …

Can Ugandan Coffee Be the Next “Coffee Success” Story in China? Read More »

The Pandemic and Geopolitics Have Created New Opportunities For South African Wines in China

COVID-19 has ravaged agricultural sectors across the world, with lockdowns, falling demand, and supply chain issues resulting in many producers unable to export their products. The South African wine market was thought to be no exception. But unexpectedly, Sino-Australian geopolitical tensions have not only offered a lifeline to South African wine producers, but an opportunity …

The Pandemic and Geopolitics Have Created New Opportunities For South African Wines in China Read More »

Chinese Farmers Are Now Selling More Online. Can “E-Commerce for Agriculture” Also Work in Africa?

In China, e-commerce is everywhere. Walk down any street in a busy city and you come across “Kuaidi” drivers delivering parcels or advertisements for online “Taobao” shops. But beyond China’s bustling cities, e-commerce has a profound impact on job creation and poverty reduction. With 2020 hailed as the deadline for the eradication of poverty in …

Chinese Farmers Are Now Selling More Online. Can “E-Commerce for Agriculture” Also Work in Africa? Read More »

From Fake to Great – New study on Protecting Intellectual Property Rights Online in China

Online Counterfeit In China – Could the EU Memoranda of Understanding approach help, and if so – how? We all know that China has grown rapidly over the last 40 years, with the result that over 800 million people have lifted themselves out of poverty. But did you know that for the last 6 years, since …

From Fake to Great – New study on Protecting Intellectual Property Rights Online in China Read More »

african brands at the world economic forums annual meeting of new champions

During our pilot programme, the brands also attended the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of New Champions, where they met successful China-based entrepreneurs and international renowned businesses, as well as leaders in innovation, technology and science. Here, they received valuable advice on how to “scale up” to the next level and be ready for a …

african brands at the world economic forums annual meeting of new champions Read More »

Sustainable Special Economic Zones –A New Drive for Promoting Light Manufacturing in Kenya and Ethiopia

Over the past 5 years the East African region has been benefiting from increased trade due to growing FDI into the region, driven primarily by new players such as China alongside a vibrant economy. However, this growth has produced a dilemma for both Kenya and Ethiopia who are looking at Light Manufacturing as the next driver …

Sustainable Special Economic Zones –A New Drive for Promoting Light Manufacturing in Kenya and Ethiopia Read More »

Designed to Disrupt: Development Reimagined brings Sustainable African Brands to China

Development Reimagined helping put trade at the heart of sustainable development in Africa At Development Reimagined we firmly believe that ‘aid’ or development cooperation is not the only answer to sustainable development in Africa. Solving economic and social problems in poor and middle-income countries requires structural change –in trade, investment, people. We believe in a …

Designed to Disrupt: Development Reimagined brings Sustainable African Brands to China Read More »

Making China’s Markets work for the Poor in African Countries

The world is currently on its tiptoes, wondering what the outcomes of the US-China trade discussions will be. Many commentators are also concerned about the state of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), created just less than 25 years ago, and whether it will survive this dispute between the world’s two largest economies. At the same …

Making China’s Markets work for the Poor in African Countries Read More »

Who is looking out for African companies in China?

This year I got a great, albeit unusual Christmas present. On Christmas Day, my company, Development Reimagined – the first Kenyan Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise in Beijing – was accepted as a member of the China Africa Business Council (CABC) also based in Beijing. It was a proud moment. To date, the CABC membership has …

Who is looking out for African companies in China? Read More »

Development Reimagined supports Beijing’s first Africa Week

Introduction: Development Reimagined supports Beijing’s first Africa Week. Development Reimagined is one of the sponsors of the week, amongst others such as OFO, Hotel Jen and many more. In particular, we have supported the sifting of applicants for a start-up competition for new African businesses here in China. The start-up will win the proceedings of …

Development Reimagined supports Beijing’s first Africa Week Read More »

testing the market showcasing african brands at the first china africa import expo

At Africa Reimagined we firmly believe that ‘aid’ or development cooperation is not the best answer to sustainable development in Africa. Solving economic and social problems in poor and middle-income countries requires structural change – in trade, investment, and people. We believe in a holistic approach – looking at all areas of development, beyond aid, and what …

testing the market showcasing african brands at the first china africa import expo Read More »

Scroll to Top