- The new platform will help Zhejiang technology companies expand into African markets as Chinese firms look beyond traditional overseas destinations
- The initiative brings government-backed services, industry resources and local partners under one roof
Hangzhou has launched a new platform to support Chinese digital companies entering African markets, as Africa gains importance in China’s overseas expansion strategy amid rising trade and geopolitical barriers elsewhere.
At the 2026 China-Africa Digital Cooperation and AI Development Forum on August 27, the Zhejiang office of the China-Africa Digital Technology Cooperation Center was officially inaugurated in Hangzhou’s Binjiang District.
The country’s first one-stop China-Africa digital cooperation service center for overseas expansion also began operations.
The office was jointly established by the Internet Society of China, the China-Africa Chamber of Commerce, the Zhejiang Association of Digital Economy and Binjiang District Government.
It will serve as a public-service platform and cooperation gateway for Zhejiang companies seeking to enter African markets.
Room for Chinese companies
Africa offers a potentially significant market for Chinese digital technology companies. The African Continental Free Trade Area covers a market of about 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP of roughly $3.4 trillion.
However, digital infrastructure remains relatively underdeveloped across much of the continent. That creates room for Chinese companies with established capabilities in areas such as digital security, AI, cloud computing and industrial automation.
Chinese technology companies have already established a foothold. Zhejiang-based firms including Hikvision (海康威视), Dahua Technology (大华股份), H3C (新华三) and Supcon Technology (中控技术) have entered African markets through product exports, technology licensing and localized manufacturing.
The new Zhejiang office will organize business delegations, promote digital-skills training, participate in national-level research projects and establish channels for exchanges between Chinese and African technology companies.
A broader shift
The move also reflects a broader shift in how Chinese companies approach overseas expansion.
Rather than relying solely on individual companies to identify partners, navigate regulations and establish local operations, local governments and industry groups are increasingly building platforms to coordinate market entry.
For Zhejiang, the initiative gives its digital economy a dedicated channel into a market that Chinese companies have historically underexplored compared with Southeast Asia, Europe and North America.
For African markets, it could provide more structured access to Chinese technology suppliers as governments across the continent accelerate digitalization.
Binjiang, one of Hangzhou’s main technology hubs, is home to companies spanning AI, IoT and digital security.
By bringing those capabilities together with African demand on a government-backed platform, the initiative could make Africa a more prominent destination in Zhejiang’s next wave of overseas expansion.
Header image credit: China-Africa Digital Technology Cooperation Center
