ADDIS ABABA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese companies participating in the seventh edition of the Ethiopia Agrofood Trade Show in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, have expressed confidence in promising markets in Africa.

Some of the Chinese exhibitors told Xinhua on Thursday that the growing number of agro-food businesses in Africa has presented a huge market opportunity for their products, and that prompted them to expand their presence on the continent.

Liao Rongzhi, a sales manager at Guangzhou Jiangda Biotech, which is engaged in the supply of different flavors to biscuit, chocolate and beverage producing factories in Africa, noted that Africa, being a big continent with a large population, represents a major opportunity for the company's products.

"We aim to tap into the growing demand for our products by food and beverage factories in Africa and end users," he said, adding that Jiangda has a growing number of customers in Ethiopia and other parts of Africa.

According to Liao, Jiangda Biotech is considering setting up a plant in Ethiopia, where the demand for its flavor products, especially for beef and chicken seasonings, is on the rise.

Shanghai Beyond Machinery Company is one of the 158 exhibitors showcasing their products at the Ethiopia Agrofood Trade Show 2025. The company supplies and installs machinery for beverage, dairy product and juice processing lines.

Alice Yu, director of the company's international business division, said Shanghai Beyond Machinery has witnessed an expanding market in Africa amid rising demand for beverage and dairy product processing machines on the continent.

"Our company supplies machinery to clients in Ethiopia, Kenya, Algeria, Senegal, Ghana and South Africa, among others," Yu said. "We still have a big opportunity in Africa."

Ma Cheng, a sales representative at Shandong Sishui Haiyun Food Processing Machines, another Chinese company that serves customers in South Africa, Tanzania and Ethiopia, said: "Africa is a big market and it is full of opportunities. We hope we will find very good partners and potential buyers at the event."

Companies from a dozen other countries, including Austria, Brazil, Denmark, Germany, India, Italy, Kenya, Poland, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, also displayed their products and solutions at the show, which will run through Saturday.

Speaking at the event, Ethiopia's State Minister of Industry Hassan Mohammed said the show aims to strengthen local food production, boost food security and promote industrial development and import substitution.

According to the World Bank, Ethiopia, with a population of 130 million, which is expected to grow to 200 million by 2050, has long been the largest food market in East and Central Africa. ■