In July 2026, BYB Canvas joined a Chinese business delegation led by Professor Zhao Haoxing, Dean of the Institute of China-Africa Economic and Trade Studies at Zhejiang Gongshang University and Founder of China-Africa Bridge, on a business and market research tour of Africa. The delegation visited Morocco, Ghana, and South Africa, engaging in in-depth exchanges with local government authorities, industry organizations, and business partners to explore potential cooperation opportunities across multiple sectors.
The tour lasted more than ten days and spanned three major regions of Africa—North Africa, West Africa, and Southern Africa—covering three representative African economies. Through on-site visits and face-to-face discussions, the delegation gained first-hand insights into local economic conditions, industry dynamics, and actual market demand, while building valuable business connections for Chinese companies seeking to develop long-term operations in Africa.
For BYB Canvas, this was more than a business trip. It was an important opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the African market, identify long-term cooperation opportunities, and lay the groundwork for future market development.
Exploring New Market Opportunities in Morocco
The tour began with the delegation’s departure from Beijing and arrival in Casablanca, Morocco.
As a major economic and commercial hub in North Africa, Casablanca connects the markets of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. It plays an important role in regional trade and serves as a strategic gateway for Chinese companies entering the North African market. During the visit to Morocco, the delegation engaged with official investment agencies and innovation platforms, focusing on local economic and trade policies, industrial development, and opportunities for China-Africa cooperation. These exchanges provided valuable first-hand insights into the region’s business environment and growth potential.
Africa is not a single, homogeneous market. Economic structures, consumer preferences, and business practices vary significantly from one region to another. Based on the delegation’s on-site observations and discussions, Morocco is experiencing continued growth in infrastructure and commercial real estate. Combined with demand for hotels and commercial space driven by major sporting events, the market for printed canvas, decorative wall coverings, and other interior decoration materials is showing promising potential.
Local customers place clear emphasis on product quality and design, while also attaching great importance to reliable and stable supply chains. These requirements align closely with BYB Canvas’s strengths in product quality, manufacturing capabilities, and supply chain support.
Building a Stronger Business Foundation in Ghana
On July 24, the delegation arrived in Accra, the capital of Ghana, beginning its West African market visit.
Ghana is an important economy in West Africa and a key hub for China-West Africa economic and trade cooperation. In recent years, cooperation between China and Ghana has continued to expand across trade, infrastructure, manufacturing, and youth entrepreneurship, with commercial exchanges between the two countries becoming increasingly active.
During the visit, the delegation held in-depth discussions with Ghanaian government officials and industry representatives and was invited to visit the Jubilee House, the official residence and office of the President of Ghana, where the delegation received a high-level reception. This was one of the highlights of the entire trip.
High-level government engagement not only reflects Ghana’s openness to international economic and trade cooperation, but also enabled participating companies to gain a broader understanding of the country’s investment environment, industrial development plans, and future cooperation priorities.
With rapid urbanization, Ghana is seeing steady growth in demand for residential and commercial decoration. Cost-effective decorative materials are also gaining increasing acceptance in the local market. The official-level connections established during this visit provide BYB Canvas with a stronger foundation for future expansion in West Africa, creating more efficient channels for policy communication, local partnerships, and market development.
Laying the Groundwork for Local Growth in South Africa
On July 28, the delegation arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, beginning the final stage of the business and market research tour.
As one of Africa’s most developed economies and a major commercial hub, South Africa has relatively sophisticated business infrastructure and a diversified industrial base. It is also a strategic base for Chinese companies seeking to expand throughout Southern Africa.
China and South Africa have a strong foundation for economic and trade cooperation, with bilateral collaboration expanding from traditional trade into areas such as industrial investment, technology exchange, and education-industry integration.
During the South Africa visit, the delegation met with representatives of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa and engaged with financial service institutions and trade promotion organizations. Discussions focused on financial services, regulatory compliance, policy support, and other key considerations for Chinese companies establishing operations in South Africa. These meetings provided valuable guidance and support at the institutional level.
One of the most important practical activities during the South Africa visit was an on-site inspection of the planned South Africa-China 5E Education-Industry Integration City project. Located in Gauteng Province, the project is planned to cover nearly 20,000 mu and is designed to integrate vocational education, industrial incubation, commercial trade, and overseas warehousing services. Once developed, it is expected to accommodate more than 100 Chinese companies establishing operations in South Africa.
For BYB Canvas, this provides a promising physical platform for future localization in South Africa. By leveraging the industrial park’s potential warehousing and local distribution infrastructure, the company could significantly shorten delivery times and reduce logistics costs.
South Africa has a mature advertising production, digital printing, and home decoration market, which closely aligns with BYB Canvas’s core product applications, including printable canvas and decorative materials. The on-site visit enabled the team to develop a deeper understanding of local customer requirements, distribution channels, and application scenarios, while providing valuable practical insights for future localization and market development.
Starting with Market Research, Continuing to Expand the Global B2B Market
The three-country Africa tour represents an important step in BYB Canvas’s global expansion strategy.
Looking ahead, BYB Canvas will continue to monitor the development of African markets and actively seek local distributors and other B2B partners to establish long-term business relationships.
As a manufacturer specializing in canvas and wall art products, BYB Canvas continuously serves B2B customers across different countries and regions. The company provides products and customized solutions for printing companies, art material distributors, wall art businesses, home décor brands, and other professional customers.
Through continued international market research, local engagement, and strategic partnerships, BYB Canvas aims to better understand the needs of customers in different markets, strengthen its global supply chain capabilities, and build sustainable, long-term B2B partnerships worldwide.
