Yang Shaojing (left), deputy director of the conference affairs department of CIFIT's organizing committee, visits the representative office of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Ethiopia. [Photo/chinafair.org.cn]

The 2019 China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) started its two-day promotion in Ethiopia, the first stop of its African trip, on May 23.

Headed by Yang Shaojing, deputy director of the conference affairs department of CIFIT's organizing committee, the promotion team organized a conference to introduce the 2019 edition in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, on May 23.

Roughly 20 representatives from local commerce associations and many heads of local businesses attended the event.

The promotion team also visited offices of international organizations in the country.

Aurelia Calabro, chief delegate of the representative office of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Ethiopia, said that as the joint sponsor, UNIDO has maintained close relations with the organizing committee of CIFIT.

UNIDO will continue organizing forums and releasing investment reports at the annual event and promoting CIFIT among renowned companies in Ethiopia, added Calabro.

The promotion team visited the African Union, where they introduced the history of CIFIT and the latest plan for this year's event.

They called on the Ethiopian Investment Commission and investment adviser of the International Trade Center in Ethiopia to invite them to participate in the 2019 CIFIT.

In addition, they also called at the business offices of Chinese embassy in Ethiopia and of Chinese mission to the African Union to report on the preparation for the 2019 edition of CIFIT and its promotion in the African country.

CIFIT is held in Xiamen every September. The fair focuses on investment negotiation and investment policy promotion on a national and international scale, and promotes the development of national and regional economies in China as well as economic and trade exchange across the Taiwan Strait.

In 2018, the fair facilitated the signing of 1,982 investment projects worth 527.5 billion yuan ($78.59 billion) and drew the attendance of more than 120,000 representatives from 1,005 industrial and commercial associations. Nearly 5,000 companies representing 128 countries and regions also attended.