China-Africa Business Council
China-Africa Business Council (cabc.org.cn)
The idea of China-Africa Business Council (CABC) was proposed in 2004 by Mr. Kofi Annan, then Secretary-General of the United Nations. After a year of joint preparation by the UNDP, MOFCOM China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges and the China Society for Promotion of the Guangcai Program, the organization was officially established in Beijing with the approval of China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs and support from top government leaders on October 23, 2006.
CABC’s first chair was HU Deping, former Deputy Head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee. He was succeeded by ZHENG Yuewen, Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) and Chairman of Creat Group. In December 2017, WANG Licheng, member of ACFIC Standing Committee and Chairman of Holley Group, was elected the chair of CABC. Central to CABC are the principles of “respecting culture, combining generosity with profit, and promoting win-win cooperation”. In response to the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the organization has served as a platform for communication, networking and cooperation, offering practical guidance for Chinese businesses, especially those from the private sector, to build presence in Africa and contribute to the Continent’s development. CABC supports FOCAC initiatives. The organization helps prepare for Chinese leaders’ trips to Africa, and organizes trade and invest forums for African delegations visiting China. Over the past 12 years, it has hosted nearly 200 delegations from 35 African countries and more than 20 UN and regional organizations, and led Chinese delegations to 36 African countries. CABC is dedicated to serving Chinese investors in Africa. Under the support of ACFIC, CABC works to: provide market research and advisory services; communicate the concerns of the business community to policy-makers; facilitate international networking and help businesses understand and navigate local markets; offer financing guidance; and enhance business compliance and credibility. Specifically, it has developed 18 communication frameworks, offering general services involving legal and commercial consulting, visa application for business trips, security assistance, human resources, international communication, as well as specialized services such as consulting on investment financing. CABC is devoted to the economic and social development of Africa. By August 2018, its network of 650 members and some 2,000 Africa-focused organizations has reached out to 51 African countries with a total investment of USD 9.05 billion in 38 African countries, hiring over 105,000 local employees and creating more than 1.5 million new jobs. The members have also provided over 50 million people from 10 million households in 30 African countries with access to digital TV services, more than 100 million patients in 22 African countries with the anti-malarial drug of Artemisinin, 300 million people in 20 African countries with anti-malarial mosquito nets, and over 300 million African people with 400 million mobile phones, etc.CABC seeks to promote China-Africa people-to-people exchanges and charitable contributions. Apart from encouraging its Africa-based members to serve local communities, promote cultural exchanges and shoulder corporate social responsibility, CABC has also led philanthropic projects under the support of UN agencies. For example, the Increasing Love for Decreasing AIDS Fund and the Public Benefit International Challenge for Youth it initiated to help African women and children affected by AIDS and poverty via the Organization of African First Ladies, raising public awareness of millions of Chinese people on Africa’s challenges and engaging over 100,000 Chinese teenagers and households in charitable giving.CABC was granted general observer status with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 2017, which was unprecedented in China. In the future, CABC will further exchange and cooperate with investment promotion
organizations in African countries and ACFIC on different levels. CABC strives for enhanced China-Africa friendship and commercial relationship.
CABC brings together global vision, African opportunities and China’s strength. Our goal is to secure a better future for Africa!