2012-07-20 09:34:43 　  CRIENGLISH.com 

The number of African entrepreneurs living in China has been growing in recent years thanks to the flourishing relationship between China and Africa.

With trade among China and African countries continuing to rise, a good number of Africans are embracing what they see as opportunities in China to sell products produced in their home countries.

Julias Bob Kibua is a Kenyan entrepreneur.

"I came to China sometime in 2007, and my business is coffee and tea."

Kibua, who has lived in China for 4-years, says while the opportunities are out there, estabilishing his business hasn't come without challenges.

"Basically, it is like we are training the Chinese people because they still don't know much about coffee and especially the old generation. But the young generation, these days are even dating for coffee in the coffee shops, meaning our coffee product is just getting a mileage in China. About tea, they still worship their green tea. However there are some of them who really enjoy our black tea from home."

China's economic cooperation with Africa has steadily been increasing.
 
In 2009, China surpassed the United States as Africa's largest trade partner.

Walter Ruigu, an entrepenur from Tanzania, says many Africans like himself see China as the place to be.

"African entrepreneurs we are already here, we understand the opportunities that are already here because we see the China opportunity. We left western countries we left Africa because the opportunity is here."

Despite the many success stories for African entrepreneurs here in China, Botswana ambassador George Sasara says many of them are still missing out.

"Africans are afraid to take risks yet a business man must withstand the pressure. If Africa has to develop, we need young people to be here. You know there are not many people who are young who can stay in China and try to make a living. "

African countries with diplomatic ties with China don't have to pay tariffs on roughly 60-percent of the products they export to China.

For CRI, I am Nillah Nyakoa.