On September 4, 2024, the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit opened grandly in Beijing. As the largest and most significant diplomatic event hosted by China in recent years, with the highest number of foreign leaders in attendance, the forum served as a platform for both sides to strengthen their friendship, discuss cooperation, and shape the future. Through all-round collaboration, China and Africa are building a high-level community with a shared destiny.
On September 4, 2024, the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit opened grandly in Beijing. As the largest and most significant diplomatic event hosted by China in recent years, with the highest number of foreign leaders in attendance, the forum served as a platform for both sides to strengthen their friendship, discuss cooperation, and shape the future. Through all-round collaboration, China and Africa are building a high-level community with a shared destiny.
In 2004, Suzhou King Long Higer Bus followed the national strategy and set sail to “go global,” entering the beautiful land of Africa. After 20 years of deep cultivation and expansion, Suzhou King Long has exported over 14,000 buses to 40 African countries. This not only helped to drive the growth of the African public transportation market but also contributed to the vibrant development of “China-Africa cooperation” in the bus industry.
Africa, with its 54 countries, is the continent with the largest concentration of developing nations in the world. Public transportation is crucial for improving the livelihood of its people and is a major focus of development across the continent. When Suzhou King Long first entered the African market, it overcame significant challenges such as outdated infrastructure and complex road conditions, allowing Higer buses to successfully operate across Africa’s vast landscapes. The company has also contributed to the successful implementation of public transport projects and people’s welfare initiatives in many countries. In Zimbabwe, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and other nations, Higer buses consistently ranked among the top three in sales, with new customers increasing annually and the brand earning high praise.
Notably, in the mysterious and low-profile North African country of Algeria, Suzhou King Long has exported over 9,000 buses since 2005, with a market share exceeding 90%. Algeria is not only Suzhou King Long’s largest overseas market but also the leading bus brand in the country. The introduction of Higer buses has greatly improved the public transport system in Algeria’s major cities. Old, dilapidated buses—many over 20 or even 30 years old—have been replaced with new, better-conditioned, comfortable buses, bringing real happiness and satisfaction to the Algerian people.
Due to the impact of the Sahara Desert, many areas in Algeria suffer from sandstorms. Suzhou King Long has specifically designed forced dust exhaust systems for the engines of buses exported to Algeria, preventing frequent changes of engine air filters. Furthermore, the luggage compartments, which are prone to accumulating dust, are covered with aluminum alloy panels, making it easier for customers to clean the compartments with water and maintain vehicle cleanliness. This market-specific customization has become a standard feature of Suzhou King Long’s tailored solutions for various African countries.
The “friendship” between Suzhou King Long and Africa is not only based on providing high-quality products but also on a deep commitment to cooperation. In 2017, Suzhou King Long established a joint venture KD factory with a local distributor in Algeria, significantly promoting the development of the local bus manufacturing industry. This approach not only saved the Algerian government a substantial amount of foreign exchange but also introduced and absorbed advanced manufacturing technologies and experiences, thus boosting the development of Algeria’s manufacturing sector. Suzhou King Long has not only provided local technical expertise, talent, and production equipment but has also become deeply involved in Africa’s public transportation development.
Exporting Chinese products, but more importantly, exporting China’s “solutions”—this has been Suzhou King Long’s philosophy for the past 20 years in its expansion of the African market. Looking ahead to the next 20 years, Suzhou King Long, guided by the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, will deepen its cooperation with African countries and continue to expand the breadth, depth, and height of its collaborations in the public transport sector, jointly writing a new chapter in the high-quality development of China-Africa transportation cooperation.
