Djibouti is a major trade port in the Horn of Africa such as Ethiopia. It is also a gateway for ‘the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road’ to enter Africa.

By Xu Shuying

n 28th May, a giant cargo ship Sinotrans Limited set off from Port of Shanghai to the west coast of the Red Sea in the northeast of Africa. Among the cargo on the ship, 36 new energy vehicles were from Nantong Yaojunfeng New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. It was the third batch of cargo delivered to Africa since the enterprise entered the global exhibition hall of Djibouti International Free Trade Zone with the help from Djimart, a cross-border e-commerce platform. Up to now, 17 Rudong enterprises have completed online registration on Djimart. The ‘Rudong Zone’ in the global exhibition hall of the Free Trade Zone will be opened in Djibouti within this year.

Djibouti is a major trade port in the Horn of Africa such as Ethiopia. It is also a gateway for ‘the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road’ to enter Africa. Djibouti International Free Trade Zone was developed and built by China Merchants Group and Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority together. It was opened on 5th July 2018. Djimart cross-border e-commerce platform is a Chinese B2B platform which cooperates officially with Djibouti International Free Trade Zone.

‘Last year the total bilateral trade between China and Africa exceeded 280 billion U.S. dollars. Djibouti, as a major trade window of East Africa, can reach about 500 million people in Africa. Their demand for clothing, food, housing and transport is the direction of our product choice.’ Liu Lei, the board chairman of Move International, the operator of Djimart cross-border e-commerce platform, introduced.