Sarmad Ismael Noori Al Doori, a businessman from Iraq who runs a foreign trade company in Yiwu, is interviewed by Ningbo Daily. [Photo/Ningbo Daily] 

A delegation of diplomats and business organization representatives from 22 countries and regions including Fiji, Ethiopia, Netherlands, South Africa, Japan, Korea, the United Kingdom, Canada, Vietnam and the United States recently visited Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province.

The delegation visited places including Ningbo Zhoushan Port, Ningbo National High-tech Zone, Ningbo Import Commodity Exhibition and Trading Center and Ningbo Joyson Electronic Co Ltd.

Rirhandzu Mahlale, consulate general of the Republic of South Africa in Shanghai, said China is one of the biggest trade partners of South Africa, and Ningbo is a major channel connecting China with South Africa and other countries around the world.

"Most of our goods are imported and exported from Ningbo Zhoushan Port," said Mahlale, who hopes to see more goods from the city purchased by South Africa.

Many enterprises have set up factories or formed specific industries in Ningbo, which is evidence of a healthy and beneficial business environment, he noted.

Lee Donki, head of the Hangzhou office of the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency, hailed Ningbo's business climate as "superior".

He said that Ningbo, as a port city, has convenient transportation and rich industrial and human resources, which makes it more appealing to foreign investors.

Sarmad Ismael Noori Al Doori is a businessman from Iraq who runs a foreign trade company in Yiwu, which is known as the "world's supermarket".

"Ningbo is close to Yiwu and has developed manufacturing industries. I believe I can find new cooperation opportunities in this city," Sarmad said, "The private economy in Ningbo is very active - an indicator of the excellent government services here."

The Iraqi businessman said he plans to set up a factory in Ningbo to seek new development opportunities, seeing how traditional exports have been thwarted by the COVID-19 pandemic.