CIFTIS offers new gateway for Africa

The number of deals signed, and the number of innovation breakthroughs unveiled at the China International Fair for Trade in Services, or CIFTIS, held recently in Beijing, are striking.

More than 900 agreements were signed across fields ranging from construction and finance to information technology, and over 60 countries and 20 international organizations participated in the event in September.

Nearly 200 breakthroughs in innovation were unveiled in artificial intelligence, financial technology, healthcare and green technology, alongside 109 product launches including quantum computing prototypes and bionic sensors. In total, the fair drew over 250,000 on-site visitors and thousands more virtually, with some 8,500 digital business meetings taking place on its matchmaking platform.

These are not just statistics about a trade fair. They tell a story about how services trade, the world's fastest-growing component of commerce, is increasingly shaping global development. And for Africa and the Global South, the opportunities revealed at CIFTIS 2025 could be transformative.

First, the fair underscored China's commitment to opening-up. Officials reiterated plans to liberalize sectors such as telecommunications, healthcare, education and culture. These are exactly the areas where many developing countries are seeking partners and investments. Africa's education systems need digital platforms to scale up, its healthcare systems need new technologies to reach rural populations, and its cultural industries are ready for global audiences. If China follows through, CIFTIS could become the gateway through which African service providers enter the world's largest market.

Second, the innovations on display were not just futuristic gadgets for wealthy economies. They have practical relevance for the Global South. Precision medicine could improve healthcare outcomes in resource-constrained settings. Fintech solutions can accelerate financial inclusion in regions where millions remain unbanked. And affordable green technologies showcased at the fair can help African nations power villages, farms and small businesses without repeating the heavy fossil-fuel path of the past.

Third, CIFTIS demonstrated the power of digital platforms to level the playing field. With thousands of virtual exhibitors and digital matchmaking leading to 8,500 business connections, participation was no longer limited to those who could afford to send large delegations to Beijing. For small African companies in services like IT outsourcing or creative industries, this means they can connect directly with Chinese or global partners at lower cost.

Of course, enthusiasm must be matched with realism, and service trade is complex. Agreements signed at fairs do not automatically translate into jobs or exports. Barriers such as data regulation, licensing standards and digital infrastructure gaps in developing countries must be addressed if the Global South is to fully seize the opportunity. Equally, governments need the capacity to negotiate deals that build local value — ensuring that partnerships include technology transfer, skills development and fair financing terms.

Still, the potential is undeniable. Consider how infrastructure built with Chinese financing has already reshaped trade in parts of Africa. Now imagine that same level of engagement extended to digital services, healthcare systems or educational platforms. The result could be an acceleration of Africa's leap into the knowledge economy, bypassing some of the structural bottlenecks that have long constrained growth.

CIFTIS also signals something deeper — a rebalancing of global trade conversations. For decades, major service trade forums have been dominated by Western economies. By creating and expanding its own fair, China is offering an alternative platform where the Global South is not an afterthought but an integral participant. That matters for global governance and for economic diversification at a time when protectionism is rising elsewhere.

Africa, in particular, should view this as a call to action. The African Continental Free Trade Area has already laid the groundwork for intra-African trade in goods and services. CIFTIS provides an external complement — a space where African companies can project themselves into Asia and beyond. If African policymakers coordinate — showcasing the continent's creative industries, IT hubs and green-energy startups — CIFTIS could become as important to Africa's service exporters as commodity markets once were for its raw materials.

The fair has ended, but the work begins now. For Africa and the wider Global South, success will depend on how effectively leaders translate opportunities into outcomes — building digital infrastructure, aligning regulatory frameworks and negotiating partnerships that genuinely empower local industries.

CIFTIS 2025 was a success for China, but its real significance lies in the doors it opens for others. In a global economy searching for new growth engines, the fair reminds us that cooperation, services trade and innovation can light the path forward.

For the Global South, stepping through that open door could make the difference between being passengers in the global economy and becoming drivers of the next wave of growth.

The author is executive director of South-South Dialogues, a Nairobi-based development communication think tank. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.