ISLAMABAD
Chinese Private Sector has decided to expands overseas ventures, said Lu Qingguo, a deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress and chairman of Chenguang Biotech Group Company.
The company is establishing overseas grain and specialty agricultural product production bases. it also cultivates a mutually beneficial relationship with local communities. As the world’s largest producer of paprika oleoresin, capsaicin, and lutein, Lu Qingguo’s company took the lead in global scaling as early as 2010, setting up two factories in India.
In 2015, Chenguang turned its attention to Zambia, acquiring over 100,000 acres of land to cultivate chilies and marigolds while establishing on-site processing facilities to deepen its industrial integration.
From India to Africa, Chenguang has steadily advanced its global footprint. “Take Africa as an example – both marigold and chili harvesting require manual labor. With Africa’s abundant workforce, labor-intensive agricultural production is ideally suited for the region.
Africa’s advantages in land availability, sunlight, thermal resources, and water supply, combined with low raw material costs, significantly enhance the global competitiveness of Chinese enterprises,” Lu Qingguo explained.
“Further, Chinese enterprises overseas create employment opportunities for local farmers, increase their income, and genuinely improve their livelihoods.” Agriculture serves as a pillar of Zambia’s national economy, with the country boasting vast land resources and the Zambezi River, the largest water system in southern Africa.
During the dry season, sunlight is abundant, and over 80% of the population is engaged in agricultural production. However, productivity remains low, relying primarily on small-scale traditional farming, with minimal mechanization and limited irrigation infrastructure—most farming is dependent on rainfall, making harvests unpredictable.
To promote standardized agricultural practices, Chenguang has brought in experts from China to provide extensive technical training for local employees. From seedling cultivation and precision field management to welding, equipment maintenance, and tractor operation, the extensive training programs have transformed many Zambian farmers into skilled “new-generation agricultural workers” equipped with multiple technical competencies.
