Tanzania brings key government institutions to CIIE, targeting investment and export growth

This photo taken on November 5, 2026 shows a section of Tanzania National Pavilion of the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai. (Kwizela Aristide Basebya/People's Daily Online)

Tanzania is using the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) to strengthen its commercial links with China by bringing together key government institutions focusing on opening markets for Tanzanian products, connecting local businesses with international buyers and attracting foreign investment.

The country's participation brings together the Tanzania Tea Board, the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), the Warehouse Receipts Regulatory Board (WRRB), the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) and the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), each pursuing opportunities to connect Tanzanian products and businesses with Chinese buyers, trading partners and potential investors.

Speaking with People's Daily Online inside the Tanzanian pavilion on Saturday November 7, Beatrice Banzi, Director of the Tanzania Tea Board, said Tanzania's tea exports to China had been growing since they began gradually in 2023 and 2024, with further increases recorded in 2025 and 2026. She attributed the growth partly to favourable trade conditions, particularly the zero-tariff policy.

Tanzania delegates pose for a photo inside the Tanzania National Pavilion of the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai. (Kwizela Aristide Basebya/People's Daily Online)

“So we are here to showcase the potential of Tanzanian tea and explore opportunities to expand our presence in the Chinese market. China is an important market for tea, and this expo gives us an opportunity to connect directly with potential buyers,” Banzi said.

She revealed that two Chinese companies had already expressed interest in importing Tanzanian tea, requesting samples that were subsequently provided alongside contact information to facilitate further business discussions.

Beyond China, Banzi said the participation of more than 100 countries at the CIIE gives Tanzania an opportunity to promote its tea to a wider range of international markets. She added that the country is also using the platform to seek investors interested in different stages of the tea value chain.

Beatrice Banzi, Director of the Tanzania Tea Board poses for a photo inside the Tanzania National Pavilion of the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai. (Kwizela Aristide Basebya/People's Daily Online)

TanTrade is meanwhile using the exhibition to increase the visibility of Tanzanian products and strengthen the Made in Tanzania brand among international buyers.

Feliciana Samwel Mbaga, a Trade Officer at TanTrade, said the authority was coordinating Tanzania's participation to ensure local businesses had opportunities to exhibit their products, establish commercial contacts and explore potential markets.

“CIIE is an important global platform for showcasing our products and connecting with international markets. This year, the number of Tanzanian exhibitors has doubled compared with last year, when we had approximately nine participants,” Mbaga said.

For the WRRB, the focus is on building confidence among Chinese buyers seeking reliable sources of Tanzanian commodities by connecting them with commodities and products traded through the country's warehouse receipt system, according to Augusta Njoji, the board's Public Relations Officer.

Robert Mashika, a Licensing Officer of the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) talks to a Chinese businessman inside the Tanzania National Pavilion of the ninth China International Imports Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov.7, 2026. (Kwizela Aristide Basebya/People's Daily Online)

She said Tanzania was using the expo to establish networks with Chinese businesses and encourage them to participate in commodity auctions, where they could identify and purchase products that meet required quality standards.

She explained that the board provides buyers with information on commodity quantities, quality and applicable standards, helping them make informed purchasing decisions and establish reliable supply links with Tanzanian producers and traders.

Meanwhile, BRELA is targeting Chinese investors and businesses interested in entering the Tanzanian market, particularly those looking to establish operations in trade and the export of local products, said Robert Mashika, a Licensing Officer at BRELA.

Augusta Njoji, Public Relations Officer of the Warehouse Receipts Regulatory Board (WRRB) shows a product inside the Tanzania National Pavilion of the ninth China International Imports Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov.7, 2026. (Kwizela Aristide Basebya/People's Daily Online)

He said that the agency's first participation in CIIE was aimed at bringing its services closer to potential investors and helping Chinese companies understand the opportunities available in Tanzania.

“BRELA is Tanzania's gateway to business because it is responsible for registering companies and stakeholders who want to engage in business or investment in the country. We have come here to connect Chinese businesses directly with our services,” Mashika said.

He noted that some Chinese traders were unaware that they could register companies in Tanzania online while still in China and obtain registration certificates without travelling to Tanzania solely for the process.

Tanzania delegates attend a Chinese businessman inside the Tanzania National Pavilion of the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai. (Kwizela Aristide Basebya/People's Daily Online)

Mashika said this information was particularly important in reducing barriers for prospective investors, allowing them to complete registration remotely before travelling to Tanzania to establish offices and commence operations.

Cathy Wang, Director of the East Africa Commercial and Logistics Centre (EACLC), which coordinates and facilitates Tanzania's participation to the expo in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania and the Tanzanian government, said Tanzania's participation has increased significantly this year, reflecting growing interest among local businesses in accessing the Chinese market.

“In previous editions, attracting participants was a challenge because awareness and understanding of the expo were limited. When we first came in 2021, we had very few exhibitors and product samples from only six companies. This year, the number has reached 36, representing significant growth,” Wang said.

She said CIIE offers Tanzanian businesses an important opportunity to access China's vast consumer market, while helping local products meet international packaging standards. She added that the expo also provides a platform for Tanzanian businesses to better understand and take advantage of China's zero-tariff policy for African countries.