Chinese watchmakers shine at Kenyan expo, eye bigger presence in Africa

中国制表商亮相肯尼亚展会，谋求进一步拓展非洲市场

NAIROBI, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The third edition of the East Africa (Kenya) Fashion Life Show kicked off Thursday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, with a range of Chinese-made watches drawing visitors' attention.

新华社内罗毕 8 月 13 日电 第三届东非（肯尼亚）时尚生活展于周四在肯尼亚首都内罗毕开幕，多款中国制造腕表吸引了参观者驻足。

Faith Ndela, an employee of an electric mobility firm, sampled a variety of sleek watches from China's Hunan Titan Watch Manufactory.

电动出行企业员工费思・恩德拉试戴了湖南泰坦手表厂多款造型精致的腕表。

"I came to this expo specifically to engage with Chinese watchmakers," Ndela said. "Chinese exhibitors have good quality watches that are cheaper."

恩德拉表示：“我专程前来参展，就是想和中国制表商对接。中国展商的腕表品质优良，价格也更实惠。”

She also participated in a watch industry supply and matchmaking conference on the sidelines of the expo, which brought together about eight Chinese watch manufacturers and Kenyan importers, wholesalers and distributors.

她还在展会配套活动中参加了钟表行业供需对接会。本次对接会汇集约 8 家中国制表企业以及肯尼亚本土进口商、批发商与分销商。

Ndela said that she looked forward to a significant presence of Chinese-made watches in the Kenyan market, to offer local consumers an alternative that reflects their financial position.

恩德拉称，她期待中国制造腕表能在肯尼亚市场形成更大规模供给，为当地消费者提供适配其消费能力的备选产品。

Lv Xiaodong, chairman of Hunan Titan Watch Manufactory, said the company has endeavored to produce high-quality watch components that have resonated with consumers globally, with the African market on the radar.

湖南泰坦手表厂董事长吕晓东表示，企业一直致力于生产高品质腕表零部件，产品收获全球消费者认可，非洲市场正是我们重点关注的方向。

"We are looking for opportunities in the African market by leveraging local distribution networks and industrial expertise. We hope to bring our new high-technology and high-quality watches to the local market," said Lv.

吕晓东说：“我们依托当地分销网络与行业专业资源，挖掘非洲市场机遇，希望将新款高技术、高品质腕表推向当地市场。”

Running from Thursday to Saturday, the East Africa Fashion Show has brought together nearly 100 Chinese companies and about 20 Kenyan firms to showcase a wide range of fashion, lifestyle and consumer products.

本届东非时尚展为期周四至周六，汇集近百家中国企业和约 20 家肯尼亚本土企业，展出各类时尚、生活及消费产品。

Gao Wei, managing director of Afripeak Expo Kenya Ltd, the organizers of the three-day event, said it will place greater emphasis on targeted business matchmaking, China-Kenya cooperation in the fashion industry and long-term market development.

本次三日展会主办方 —— 肯尼亚阿非利匹克展览有限公司董事总经理高伟表示，展会将更加注重精准商贸对接，推动中肯时尚产业合作与长期市场开发

"We hope the exhibition will generate real business opportunities, support the growth of Kenyan enterprises, improve access to quality consumer products, and attract greater international investment into Kenya's fashion, lifestyle and consumer goods industries," said Gao.

高伟称：“我们希望本次展会能够催生实实在在的商业机会，助力肯尼亚本土企业发展，让民众更容易买到优质消费品，同时吸引更多国际资本投向肯尼亚时尚、生活及消费品产业。”

Faith Wairimu Muturi, a major distributor of Chinese-made watches in Kenya and across Africa, said their demand has been on an upward trajectory.

在肯尼亚及整个非洲经销中国制造腕表的核心经销商费思・瓦伊里穆・穆图里表示，市场需求持续攀升。

She said several Kenyan wholesalers have partnered with Chinese manufacturers to produce their own customized watches using beads and leather.

她介绍，多家肯尼亚批发商已和中国厂商合作，采用珠饰与皮革材料，生产本土定制腕表。

"The largest source market for our watches is Guangzhou in China. They are affordable and of high quality, and that is what typically drives the Kenyan watch market," said Muturi.

穆图里说：“我们腕表最大的货源地是中国广州。这些产品性价比高、品质可靠，这正是肯尼亚腕表市场的核心驱动力。”