Young people from a range of Global South countries gathered at the New Tsinghua Xuetang building at Tsinghua University to mark the conclusion of their participation in the 2024 C Star Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program.
The program was sponsored by China Merchants Group and included participants from Cameroon, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania.
“China’s achievements, driven by the principle of ‘time is money, efficiency is life,’ have shown me the importance of vision, action and values," said Kelvin Anthony Umechukwu, CEO of the e-commerce company Bumpa from Nigeria.
During the 10-day C Star program, participants embarked on a study tour across China, starting in Shenzhen and traveling north. They visited renowned enterprises and institutes of higher learning across the country to exchange ideas and explore business opportunities.
Participants visit enterprises and institutes of higher learning across China to exchange ideas and explore business opportunities. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The study tour, a highlight of the C Star Program, was funded by the China Merchants Foundation, which was established in 2009 to support various youth development initiatives.
The program aims to empower young innovators and entrepreneurs from Africa and other regions by leveraging China’s industrial incubation and venture capital resources, contributing to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
During their visit to Shenzhen, the participants toured the China Merchants History Museum. “It’s hard to believe that just a few decades ago, Shekou was nothing more than a marshland surrounded by mountains. Through dedicated effort and perseverance, it has now become a globally renowned area,” Umechukwu said.
Participants exchange ideas during the tour. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Jan De Graaf, co-founder and chief operating officer of BioMassters – a climate tech startup based in Rwanda – was among the participants. BioMassters focuses on using biotechnology to convert biomass into cooking fuel, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional biomass fuels.
Participants exchange ideas during the tour. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
“I was born in Rwanda and raised in the Netherlands. After completing my undergraduate studies in the Netherlands, I studied public policy in Singapore and later earned a master’s degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing,” De Graaf said.
De Graaf also talked of how his studies in China gave him clarity on major issues: “China’s focus on environmental protection made me realize that climate change is a major global issue.”
“In Africa, the use of wood for cooking fuel has led to widespread deforestation, particularly in Rwanda, where 93 percent of the population still relies on biomass for cooking, which is highly inefficient and causes severe pollution.”
To reduce reliance on charcoal, both in production and consumption, De Graaf and his team import cooking equipment from China and have established a factory in Rwanda to produce modern, clean fuels.
In Yiwu, China’s small commodities city, De Graaf discovered three-wheeled vehicles suitable for use at the factory in Rwanda. “I admire the vision of Chinese enterprises in using technology to advance societal development,” he added.
Participants exchange ideas during the tour. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
With the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) about to begin, China-Africa collaboration continues to deepen.
The C Star Program will collaborate with more outstanding companies and universities, both domestically and internationally, to further expand its reach and impact.
By supporting the entrepreneurial dreams of young people around the world, the program will continue to contribute to China-Africa cooperation and global development, paving the way for new opportunities and innovations.
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)
