A total of 210 China-donated apple seedlings arrived in Asmara, capital of Eritrea, on June 2, 2022 and were transplanted in two demonstration sites in Asmara and the Southern Region on the same day upon customs clearance.   

The donation of apple seedlings is an important part of phase three of a China-aided advanced agricultural technology project in Eritrea, signifying the implementation of China’s President Xi’s commitments made at the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. It is one of the areas of cooperation that Eritrea cares about most.  

Faced with urgent requests from the Eritrean side and short dormancy period for fruit seedlings prior to transplantation, and under the guidance of MARA Department of International Cooperation and the Department of Seed Industry, MARA Center of International Cooperation Service (CICOS) quickened emergency response and intensified coordination, completing research on fruit varieties and procurement, emergency reserves, export review and approval, SPS procedure and air transportation.      

Meanwhile, CICOS also instructed the expert team in Eritrea in related preparations in advance. These seedlings arrived in Eritrea before the rainy season in June and were transplanted upon arrival. At present the seedlings are growing well.   

In the next step, Chinese experts will conduct comparative experiments between Chinese apple seedlings and local varieties in different areas in Eritrea, selecting quality varieties most suitable for Eritrea to promote apple industry development in Eritrea.  

Within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the CICOS initiated phase three of a China-aided advanced agricultural technology project in Eritrea on Feb. 23, 2022. So far, three Chinese experts have fielded in Eritrea, providing technical assistance in fruit, beans and oilseeds cultivation respectively.    

loading on plane

customs clearance 

 transplantation