PART 1: Analysis on the Development Space of the S

Time：2018-11-07 14:47:00 Source：ISU Secretariat Author：Mr. Fei Jianming

Africa, in the common sense is a hot, dry and barren continent, coupled with economic backwardness, people living in poverty, so it is not suitable for sericulture and consumer groups. The silk industry does not have development space in Africa. According to the statistics from CCCT, in this near three years, the import amount of silk products in Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco have doubled, which made many senior experts in the Chinese silk industry deeply confused. In order to know the reason, and continuing the historical footprint of Chinese silk through the ancient Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road to the world, during the FOCAC, I went to Nigeria to study with the film crew of Zhejiang Television Station International Channel.

Sep. 5, the opening ceremony of 2018 China (Nigeria) Trade Fair was held in Lagos, there were 85 companies from Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Henan, Jiangxi and Guangdong participated in the exhibition, and I made a speech and ribbon cutting on behalf of the ISU.  

After the opening ceremony, the merchants who came to visit and negotiated arranged a long queue at the entrance of the exhibition hall, waiting to register on the electronic registration machine. What’s a pity there was no one Chinese silk company, maybe because the silk companies that participated in the exhibition last year did not receive an order, or in this stage of exhibition, before and after the Nigeria trade fair, there was no suit exhibition in other countries, and made Chinese silk companies to abandon the exhibition.

I visited the textile and apparel exhibition area, there were many merchants gathered at embroidery company from Hangzhou. The reasons can be concluded as follows:

1. More samples. Samples such as lace, machine embroidery, hand embroidery, mesh, hot drilling, etc. are colorful and dazzling.

2. New design. All the exhibits are newly designed this year, also considered wearing customs for Africans.

3. Low price. The price range for fabric is around $2-5 per meter.

In order to cooperate with the filming of the Zhejiang Television Station International Channel, I also brought some silk costumes to the Africa to invite the local females to wear them, they walked here and there, attracting the eyes of merchants, especially in the opening background board. The softness and elegance of silk has made some merchants to ask where they can buy it.

During the exhibition, I negotiated with the president of the Nigerian Fashion Design Association. The president expressed, the poor are poor and the rich are rich in Nigerian, and the market for high-consumer groups is there. She added, if Chinese silk wants to enter Nigeria, she can use Chinese silk fabrics to ask Nigerian fashion designers to design a fashion show for Nigerian styles. She can organize powerful buyers to watch and place orders.

        Morning of Sep. 6, I went to the balogun market with the film crew. The market located in the city center, near the central business district, and it is a home furnishing market dominated by fabrics and clothing. The market has stretched a few streets, the scale is large, and the busy trade is beyond imagination. The flow of cars in the market is endless, the horns are screaming, the variety of goods, and the variety of fancy are also overwhelming. Although the whole market is noisy, it can truly feel the pulsation of the market economy and huge market demand.

I carefully watched and touched some silk-like fabrics, judging from the dyeing and patterns, believed that these fabrics come from China and seem to understand the mystery of the multiplication of Nigerian silk imports. It should be that some Chinese export companies have used China's broad fuzzy definition of silk, and they have also designated silk-like fabrics as silk merchandise to exports. They cannot be judged as mistakes when they are inspected by customs, that is why China's exports of silk to Nigeria and other African countries have multiplied.

Based on my analysis of the Nigerian natural climate, socio-economic and fabric markets, the following preliminary conclusions have been drawn:

1. Many regions of Nigeria and even Africa are suitable for growing mulberry silkworms, which may be the last continent to be developed in the world silk industry.

2. Africa has a large population and many young people. Its economic development is relatively backward, and the demographic dividend has yet to be released. The development of the silk industry low threshold, quick results. It is the preferred way for African governments to provide employment and develop their economies.

3. To enter the African market, Chinese silk products must make great efforts to study the customs and preferences of high-end people in Africa and develop new products and techniques that are targeted.

4. Chinese silk enterprises to develop the silk industry in Africa, will also encounter the obstacles of communication, religious beliefs, ethnic conflicts, bureaucracy, etc. Chinese silk enterprises must not be frustrated, a shallow taste of the end, otherwise they will not meet the fruits of success.

Author: Mr. Fei Jianming  setretary-general of International Silk Union, director of Hangzhou Silk Culture and Brand Research Center