On June 12, 2025, the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo officially opened at the Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Center in Hunan Province under the theme "Join Hands for Modernization". As the largest economic cooperation platform under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the Expo brought together 53 African countries and 12 international organizations, showcasing achievements in infrastructure, industrial parks, and cross-border e-commerce.

China Merchants Group led a delegation of its flagship African projects under the theme "Connecting Africa, Co-Creating Prosperity", and the Group’s Vice President, Mr. Song Rong, attended the opening ceremony.

At the core of China Merchants Group’s integrated development strategy in Djibouti, the Djibouti International Free Trade Zone was highlighted alongside the Group’s other African initiatives. Through multimedia models, interactive digital screens, and professional presentations, the Free Trade Zone team showcased its unique geographic and policy advantages as “Africa’s largest free trade zone”:

Geostrategic location: Djibouti is situated at the junction of Asia, Africa, and Europe, controlling the eastern shore of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait that connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. Located along one of the world’s three major maritime routes, it serves as a natural hub for Eurasian-African trade.

Financial policy advantage: With a fixed exchange rate between the Djiboutian Franc and the US dollar and free currency exchange, Djibouti is becoming a regional trade settlement center.

Logistics gateway: Serving as the main maritime outlet for over 80% of Ethiopia’s imports and exports, Djibouti’s port continues to grow in volume, strengthening its status as East Africa’s logistics hub.

Trade policy benefits: Djibouti offers numerous preferential trade policies. Goods exported to the EU, U.S., and the COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) region enjoy zero tariffs and quota exemptions.

Jointly developed by China Merchants Group and the Government of Djibouti, the Djibouti International Free Trade Zone leverages China’s state-owned enterprise capabilities to offer comprehensive support to Chinese companies going global—from infrastructure to policy alignment.

The zone's booth attracted a wide range of government trade officials and corporate representatives. The IDIPO (Djibouti International Free Trade Zone Operations) commercial team held targeted discussions and reached initial cooperation agreements with more than ten Chinese companies in trade, logistics, and manufacturing—expanding the potential landscape for Sino-African economic collaboration.