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China-Africa Trade Information Service
Photo from East African
The first phase of a Chinese-built Free Trade Zone - billed as Africa's largest - opened Thursday in Djibouti.
The nearly 50sqkm zone will house manufacturing and warehouse facilities, an export-processing area and a services centre.
It's expected to handle trade worth $7 billion within two years, and create 15,000 jobs when complete.
With a strategic location on the Gulf of Aden, Djibouti already handles most imports for neighbouring Ethiopia, and aims to become a gateway to South Sudan, Somalia and the Great Lakes region.
The zone forms part of China's new chain of infrastructure investments in 60 countries.
China already has a military base in Djibouti, as does the United States.