At the heart of the global economy are the concerns of Chinese consumers. This is why so many businesses expend effort and resources to break into this market. This is true regardless of size, and Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos made her case in Beijing for why more African brands deserve a place in Chinese stores.
Isabel dos Santos went to Shanghai to represent Angolan drink company Sodiba. For the first time, this company has a beer in stores in China. As chairwoman, she sees it as an opportunity to make inroads for other products from other African industries and countries.
The China International Import Expo 2019 is the event where half a million business and government representatives show up to learn about and present new imports to the Chinese economy, and discuss the future of China’s role in the global economy. President Xi Jinpin was there to open the event alongside President Emmanuel Macron of France. During the five-day event, Isabel dos Santos participated in a talk about her company and its future relationship to the country.
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Addressing corporate reps in the audience, Isabel dos Santos singled out Jindong, Alibaba, and Taobao, the biggest retailers in China as lagging in support of African goods. She argued that these retailers can have a sizable impact on helping African countries and China working together for the improvement for either economies, building upon China’s vision of more diverse trade.
For her, it’s a case of fairness and equity. While African companies have access to the global, it remains inaccessible to many due to a lack of resources and representation. With support for African products, the countries where they are produced could create more jobs and spurn future trade.
Isabel dos Santos also had a few choice words for leaders in African governments. She said that the performance of companies in their countries are impacted by their inaction. It’s partly their responsibility to use their influence to urge China to engage in a dialogue about trade, supporting the private sector past bureaucratic barriers that make it difficult for less resourceful companies competitive internationally.