Local producers eye China export deals
DAR ES SALAAM: LOCAL producers are seeking export deals, investment and international partnerships as they prepare to showcase their products at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) 2026, aiming to expand access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
With bilateral trade between Tanzania and China reaching approximately 11.28 billion US dollars in 2025, the November 5–10, 2026 exhibition in Shanghai offers Tanzanian businesses an opportunity to build on the growing trade relationship by securing new deals, attracting investment and expanding access to the Chinese market.
Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade Mr Dennis Londo has urged Tanzanian exhibitors to focus on securing buyers, investors and business partners rather than treating the event solely as a product exhibition.
Speaking over the weekend during a farewell ceremony at the Chinese Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Mr Londo said the ninth edition of CIIE would help strengthen the competitiveness of local products and create new opportunities for businesses to access international markets.
“I also encourage you to learn from China’s advanced technologies in manufacturing, packaging and branding to improve product quality, value addition and compliance with international market requirements,” Mr Londo said.
Tanzania will showcase products including coffee, tea, wine, arts and crafts, and gemstones, which Londo said have the potential to compete internationally.
Further, he welcomed China’s introduction of zero-tariff treatment for products from African countries with diplomatic relations with Beijing, including Tanzania, saying the arrangement could create additional opportunities for local exporters seeking access to the Chinese market.
Tanzania Development Trade Authority (TanTrade) Director of Trade Promotion Mr Jonathan Nkwabi said the participation had been coordinated in collaboration with the East African Commercial and Logistics Centre (EACLC) and the Chinese Embassy.
Mkwabi said the delegation comprises 24 participants, including 19 private-sector exhibitors and five government institutions. He urged businesses to leverage the Made in Tanzania brand to strengthen product visibility, noting that “business-tobusiness (B2B) meetings should be used to secure buyers, establish partnerships and explore potential supply contracts.” Mr Mkwabi said.
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He said the exhibition comes amid growing commercial relations between the two countries, with bilateral trade reaching approximately 11.28 billion US dollars last year.
Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian said CIIE provides an important platform for connecting producers, traders, buyers and investors while strengthening international economic cooperation.
For Tanzania, the priority will be translating exhibition exposure into actual export orders, lasting buyer relationships and investment in local production.
The success of the country’s participation will ultimately depend on its ability to turn these engagements into tangible business opportunities, support export growth and increase value addition in the domestic economy.
