Chinese enterprises‘ overseas warehouses help Nigeria‘s economic development

Abuja, May 29 (reporter Jiang Xuan) at 9 a.m. every day, when the overseas warehouse of Shenzhen Helian supply chain company is set up in the third largest port in Nigeria, o‘nei port, Port Harcourt, opens, a large T-shaped team has already started along the road in front of the door and on both sides of the wall. In front of the door is a long dragon composed of more than 100 large trucks, while on both sides of the outer wall are a large number of women and children, and the small commodities and food are arranged neatly. Some children were peddling dairy products, drinks, fruits, etc. along the motorcade.

As trucks filed in, the employees of Helian company began to get busy. They were already very familiar with the vendors and greeted each other. Bursts of laughter floated into the air in the heat wave. The inside and outside of the warehouse were like a market.

"One stop office" service to create a convenient and safe trade channel

The Helian overseas warehouse faces the customs across the road, covering an area of 150 mu. Last April, the warehouse was specially designated as a "customs supervised warehouse" by the riverine state government. "We provide free office space for the customs, the port authority and the terminal operators, and provide a fast and convenient ‘one-stop office‘ service for merchants." Hujunkai, the person in charge of the warehouse, said while busy guiding the loading.

"In the past, goods had to go through all kinds of formalities at the public wharf. Just waiting in line for a day and a night was very tiring. Now in the overseas warehouse of Helian, goods are unloaded as they arrive. The customs and the port authority handle them at any time without delay. The efficiency is really high!" Mr. Yang, who does bulk commodity trade, said.

Mr. Wang, who is engaged in fabric trade, said that before there was no warehouse, the containers were placed in the yard, and many goods were picked up and delivered every day. If you were not careful, the goods might be lost. "Now the management is very standardized, the access is orderly, efficient and safe, and there is no need to worry about the loss of goods!"

Ariva, deputy director of Customs of o‘nei port, said that in the past, the daily throughput of o‘nei port was more than 1200 TEUs. After the completion of the joint overseas warehouse, the throughput exceeded 2000 TEUs. "Since the establishment of Helian warehouse, there has been a qualitative leap in efficiency, throughput and safety factor. We look forward to the future of onyi port becoming an international port." Azwa said.

The warehouse turns into a "black box" to store the new password of wealth

"In the past, we thought cassia seed was useless. It covered mountains and fields and occupied land. In order to eliminate it, people burned it with big fires and dug its roots with shovel, but it always grew and flourished.". PIs, Secretary of the Nigerian Federal Association for the promotion of agricultural trade, said, but he Lian told us that Nigerian cassia seed is of very good quality. It can be used as food, toy filler and industrial raw materials. "He asked us to collect it and they purchased it. We were very happy.".

"Hexian company sent people to lead farmers to pick together, and some old people, women and children who were out of school due to poverty also slowly joined in.". Justin, a young man of the Hausa nationality, said excitedly, "cassia seeds are everywhere. You can pick up a lot just by picking them up. I have made a considerable income from cassia seeds! I used to think they were rat excrement, but now I think they are as beautiful as black gold."

"Now in my hometown, the income of farmers in the whole village has increased a lot because of cassia seed. Many people no longer worry that they can‘t afford to buy food and their children can‘t afford to go to school!" Emanuel from Plateau State said.

Since this year, Helian overseas warehouse has sent more than 300 containers of cassia seeds to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and China. Recently, more than 400 containers are ready for shipment. So far, it has purchased more than 17000 tons of cassia seeds. "According to the estimation of the Nigerian side, cassia seed alone can solve the income problem of nearly 10000 peasant families in Nigeria." Said Lihui, general manager of Helian.

Promote the development of agricultural export-oriented economy and create new highlights of economic growth

"Nigeria used to be a big exporter of food and agricultural products in Africa, but the economic downturn and explosive population growth have prevented us from importing a large amount of food every year." Sidney, senior special adviser to the president of Nigeria, said that revitalizing the agricultural economy is one of the important tasks of the federal government, and Nigeria warmly welcomes the joint venture to help Nigeria develop modern agriculture and create new economic highlights.

Since the second half of 2020, the federal government of Nigeria has launched a new export program and formulated 22 non oil strategic products, including sesame, cashew nuts, ginger, cocoa, soybeans, palm oil, etc., with a total value of about US $150billion.

In this regard, Helian company is also building an indoor warehouse of 16000 square meters in the warehouse, which is specially used for the storage of agricultural products. At the same time, Helian company has cooperated with other Chinese enterprises to develop agricultural economic projects and promote the export-oriented development of Nepal‘s agricultural economy. So far, more than 400 Chinese funded enterprises have gathered and left Hong Kong through Helian overseas warehouse. In 2021, the total amount of Nigerian agricultural cash crops exported through Helian overseas warehouse will exceed 150000 tons.

Lihui said, "Nigeria‘s large amount of agricultural land and rural population have determined that its agricultural development has great potential, especially the prospect of agricultural cash crops. At present, the company has connected with government departments and will guide farmers to plant agricultural cash crops in a large area. This effort will make a great contribution to improving farmers‘ living standards."

Azwa said, "the cooperation between Helian and the federal government is a successful model. In the future, the warehouse will become the largest distribution center of agricultural products in Nigeria, and agricultural economic projects will become a new highlight of our economic growth.".

In the harvest season of agricultural products, Helian overseas warehouse often employs more than 1000 local farmers, employs more than 400 people in the surrounding areas for a long time, and rents more than 100 trucks and tractors. ISAH, a local veteran who has worked in Helian overseas warehouse for three years, said. "It is our honor to work in Helian overseas warehouse."