CTCE: Homes in Angola, projects across the globe

Xu Baocheng (center), general manage of CTCE, inspects the construction site. PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

CTCE invited Chinese experts in architecture and organized elite professionals in the company’s housing design, construction, security and quality management departments to conduct a meticulous investigation in Angola before the design stage began.

The company then organized talented Chinese designers to draft plans that met the requirements of Angola residents, were adapted to the climate and economized on resources.

The design was finally confirmed by the Angolan government after six months of discussion and improvement.

Xu said the company then hired a group of skilled technicians and supervisors for duty in Angola.

After intense preparations, the cornerstone ceremony for the real estate project was held on Aug 3, 2008 in Luanda.

To accelerate construction and maintain high quality, CTCE set up seven production units that would each shoulder different tasks according to their abilities. A management team was formed to coordinate the units at the building site in Angola.

A hospital, design office, materials factory and logistical departments were also set up for technicians and workers.

The company established modern brick manufacturing yards and sand rock facilities at the building site to facilitate the construction.

Most of the materials needed were imported from China due to local economic bottlenecks. The company established a logistics base in Tianjin, a major deepwater port in North China, to ensure the supply and avoid delays.

CTCE is responsible for the material procurement. Its purchasing staff was active in more than 30 of China’s provinces or cities to investigate thousands of suppliers and their products, aiming to provide goods of high quality for the project.

They selected more than 2,000 suppliers with strong production capacity and high market reputations. The resulting products include ceramic tiles, aluminum alloy sections, lighting, toilets, cement, steel pipes, fasteners and bamboo plywood.

By the end of November this year, the company had purchased 1.51 million tons of building materials and shipped it to Angola.

During the project, the company’s senior officials, including Board Chairman Zhang Hechuan and General Manager Xu Baocheng, flew to Angola for many times to check progress and provide suggestions.

While working on the housing project, CTCE did not forget its corporate social responsibilities in Angola.

The company hired Angolans to promote localization and ease unemployment.

After receiving training courses by the company, locals worked in erecting framework, installing reinforced steel bars and painting.

CTCE also formulated measures to manage Angolan employees, and promoted dozens of local workers to be managers. It also helped each manager draw up a work plan.

Those who had outstanding performance were offered educational opportunity at local universities through financial support from the company.

Angola President José Eduardo dos Santos visited the construction site many times and expressed his satisfaction with both the building quality and the progress.

Last year a CTCE delegation led by Xu Baocheng was cordially received by the president at the palace in Luanda.

During the meeting, Xu was told that Angola wants to continue sustainable contact and deepen its relationship with the company. He also appeared in an exclusive interview on Angolan national television.

The Angola housing project was completed in October after nearly four years of hard work. Its 9,808 apartments all passed quality examination.

“We are proud of turning a wasteland into a brand-new community and helping thousands of Angola people solve their housing problem,” Xu said. “CTCE has shown the passion and intelligence of the Chinese people.”

The housing project was completed in October with all apartments passing quality examinations. PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY