On June 10, the 2026 China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) in Africa (Morocco) was held in Casablanca, drawing over 400 representatives from government departments, business associations, financial institutions, enterprises, and media outlets of both China and Morocco. This marked Hunan's first major overseas economic and trade event in Africa since China fully implemented a zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations.

At the event, over 40 quality Chinese enterprises from six major sectors, including artificial intelligence, new energy, vehicles and auto parts, consumer goods, fishery, and agricultural product processing, engaged in targeted matchmaking with local distributors, equipment dealers, and procurement enterprises in Morocco. This initiative aimed to help Chinese enterprises expand their presence in the North African market and establish practical trade partnerships. Leveraging the CAETE platform and the new zero-tariff policy for Africa, the event facilitated precise alignment between China's competitive industries and the North African market.

At the opening ceremony and the China-Morocco Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference held on the same day, representatives from China and Morocco engaged in in-depth exchanges on topics such as industrial cooperation and investment facilitation. Youssef FADIL, general director of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Morocco, expressed his hope that this event would serve as an opportunity to promote bilateral cooperation in areas such as construction machinery, agricultural product trade, and infrastructure, to boost bilateral trade and industrial development, and to deepen the mutually beneficial economic and trade partnership between China and Morocco.

Focusing on the needs of Africa's new energy sector, the "Hunan New Energy Industry Alliance for Africa" was officially established. Led by competitive enterprises from Hunan's new energy industrial chain, the alliance will coordinate upstream and downstream enterprises to venture abroad together, upgrading the export of competitive products such as photovoltaics, energy storage, new energy vehicles, and electrical equipment from single products to comprehensive full-scenario solutions. It will strengthen localized operations and local service capabilities, continuously enhancing the province's market share in Africa.

To better facilitate product display and business negotiations, a dedicated 7,000-square-meter exhibition area was set up at the event, featuring nine themed exhibition zones, including new energy, construction machinery, vehicles and auto parts, medical devices, and agricultural products and food. The exhibition gathered Hunan-based competitive equipment manufacturers, such as SANY and Zoomlion, alongside leading Moroccan enterprises.

This event is co-hosted by the Secretariat of the CAETE Organizing Committee and Morocco's Ministry of Industry and Commerce and runs until June 12.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn