制鞋老兵挺进非洲，他是如何成为“埃塞工业之父”的

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the experiences of Huajian Group in Ethiopia, highlighting the challenges and opportunities faced by Chinese companies investing in Africa, particularly in the manufacturing sector [5][27]. Group 1: Company Background - Huajian Group, founded by Zhang Huarong, is one of the largest women's shoe manufacturers globally, producing over 20 million pairs annually for brands like Gucci and Coach [7]. - In 2011, Huajian established a factory in Ethiopia, transforming into the Ethiopia Huajian International Light Industry Park to promote local industrial development [2][24]. Group 2: Investment Journey - The Ethiopian government recognized Zhang Huarong as the "Father of Ethiopian Industry" in 2017 due to his contributions [3]. - Initial investment considerations included low labor costs, local raw material availability, and government support, with labor costs being only 1/10 of similar positions in China [12][18]. - Huajian faced significant challenges, including customs issues, high logistics costs due to poor infrastructure, and frequent power outages [19][20]. Group 3: Operational Challenges - The company experienced high employee turnover and strikes, which were legally protected, leading to financial losses [20]. - Huajian's operations were further impacted by external factors such as internal conflicts in Ethiopia and the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a significant drop in workforce from over 8,000 to under 2,000 [21][24]. Group 4: Strategic Adaptations - To recover, Huajian is focusing on partnerships with the local government to produce work and military shoes, aiming to revitalize the manufacturing sector [22]. - The company emphasizes the importance of respecting local conditions and adapting to African market dynamics, advocating for a model of "using industry to exchange resources" and "creating jobs to gain market access" [26][27]. Group 5: Future Outlook - Zhang Huarong believes that the era of simple trade expansion is over, and companies must upgrade to adapt to new market environments, particularly in sectors like food, energy, and manufacturing in Africa [27].