NAIROBI, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Chinese companies are showcasing their innovations at the 27th Buildexpo Kenya, which opened on Wednesday in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
The premier three-day exhibition has drawn more than 300 international exhibitors from 22 countries to showcase new technologies transforming Africa's building sector.
Running concurrently with Minexpo, Lightexpo, Afriwood Kenya and Watertech Expo, the mega-event positions Kenya as a regional hub for mineral processing, furniture manufacturing, clean energy and wastewater treatment.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Joe Mutugu, chief executive officer of the Affordable Housing Board under Kenya's Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, highlighted the thriving Sino-Kenyan partnership in the building sector.
Kenya is actively leveraging Chinese technology and machinery to modernize its construction industry and expand affordable housing across rapidly growing urban centers, Mutugu said.
He added that Kenya imports elevators and steel bars from China as the implementation of the affordable housing program gathers momentum across the country.
Lotus Yan, general manager of a Shandong-based company specializing in prefabricated steel buildings, said her participation in the exhibition aims to forge new business partnerships in Kenya and the wider East African region.
"I am glad to join this expo to learn more about the Kenyan market and reach more clients. We provide prefabricated steel structures from design to installation, and we want to undertake more projects here," Yan said.
Ethan Zhang, general manager of Lesso (Kenya) Development Ltd., said the company is showcasing its flagship products, including plastic pipes, fittings and solar energy solutions, to attract new clients at the expo.
Zhang also said Lesso plans to establish a factory in Kenya to produce high-quality pipes and fittings for households and water utilities, a move expected to create local jobs and support the country's sustainability agenda. ■
