Editor’s Note: the following is a summary translation of an article posted on the African Research Group’s (微信公众号 非洲研究小组) WeChat channel. Minor edits and slight adjustments to the translation have been done to enhance clarity. Please click here to view the original version of the article in Chinese.

In 1992, Wi Jiangtao was backpacking in Zimbabwe when he first came up with the idea of building a business in the southern African country. Like countless other Chinese entrepreneurs around the world, Wu saw an opportunity to take advantage of Zimbabwe’s lack of affordable goods by bringing over low-cost products manufactured in China.