Arabfields, Farah Benali, Economic Correspondent, China — China’s central province of Hunan is preparing to significantly expand its economic ties with Africa, setting a target of 80 billion yuan, about $11.9 billion, in annual trade with the continent by 2028.

The target forms part of a new three-year action plan focused on strengthening commercial links with 12 African countries. Provincial authorities are also planning around 10 major cooperation projects and one or two pilot initiatives under the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” model, reflecting a broader effort to move beyond traditional trade and develop production networks on both sides.

The strategy comes as China-Africa commerce continues to accelerate. During the first seven months of 2026, China’s total trade with African countries reached 1.66 trillion yuan, an increase of 18.9 percent from the same period a year earlier. Chinese exports to Africa rose 20.4 percent, while imports increased 16.4 percent.

For Hunan, the starting point is already substantial. Trade between the province and African countries reached 58 billion yuan in 2025, making Hunan the leading central and western Chinese province for Africa trade for the seventh consecutive year.

The new target would require Hunan to add another 22 billion yuan in annual trade compared with its 2025 level. If achieved by 2028, that would represent growth of nearly 38 percent in three years, equivalent to an average annual increase of roughly 11.3 percent.

The province is betting on sectors where Chinese manufacturers already have strong capabilities and where African markets face growing demand. Mining, construction machinery, automobiles and components, medical equipment, modern agriculture and green energy have been identified as priority areas.

Construction machinery is expected to remain one of the most important links. African economies are investing in roads, mining operations, housing and industrial infrastructure, creating demand for excavators, heavy equipment and related services. Hunan intends to increase machinery exports while also promoting remanufactured equipment and closer cooperation with Chinese companies already involved in major African infrastructure projects.

Mining is another major part of the strategy. Hunan plans to strengthen services supporting mining projects, expand shipments of African resources to China and increase exports of mining equipment. The province is also considering mining laboratories and an investment fund to support exploration activities.

For ordinary businesses, the expansion could mean something more practical than another headline about China-Africa trade. A machinery dealer in Changsha, for example, could increasingly find customers not only at home but also in African construction and mining markets. Agricultural equipment manufacturers could establish local sales and service centers, while vehicle producers could expand exports of partially assembled kits and used cars.

Agriculture is expected to become another growth area. Hunan plans to establish integrated centers in Africa covering agricultural machinery production, sales and after-sales services. At the same time, the province wants to increase imports of distinctive African agricultural products into the Chinese market.

The medical sector is also being positioned for expansion, with Hunan seeking to accelerate market certification for medical equipment and supplies and deepen cooperation through China-Africa friendship hospitals.

The timing is significant. Since May 2026, China has expanded zero-tariff treatment to products from 53 African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing. The policy is expected to lower barriers for African exporters and could encourage more Chinese companies to source agricultural products and raw materials from the continent.

If China-Africa trade maintains anything close to its current pace, the commercial relationship could become considerably larger over the next several years. The 18.9 percent increase recorded during the first seven months of 2026 already places Africa among China’s fastest-growing major trading partners, only slightly behind ASEAN’s 20 percent growth rate.

For Hunan, however, reaching 80 billion yuan by 2028 will depend on more than simply selling more Chinese products. The province will need to establish local distribution networks, provide maintenance and training, navigate different regulatory systems and build longer-term partnerships with African companies.

That shift could ultimately prove more important than the headline trade target itself. If Hunan succeeds in combining exports with manufacturing, services, investment and local training, its relationship with African markets could become less dependent on one-off shipments and more closely tied to industrial development.

The next two years will show whether the province can turn its ambitious target into a durable commercial presence. With China-Africa trade already expanding at close to 20 percent annually in 2026, Hunan is positioning itself to capture a larger share of what could become one of China’s most important emerging trade corridors.