Tanzania is using a major Chinese trade exhibition to expand its export reach and attract investment, bringing five government institutions together in a coordinated effort to promote local products, connect businesses with international buyers and develop new commercial partnerships.
The country’s participation at the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) places particular emphasis on tea, while also giving Tanzanian authorities a platform to promote investment opportunities and strengthen the Made in Tanzania brand. The approach links export promotion with business registration, regulation, investment facilitation and the development of supply chains.
A government-wide trade strategy
The Tanzanian delegation includes the Tanzania Tea Board, the Tanzania Trade Development Authority, the Warehouse Receipts Regulatory Board, the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency and the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority. Each institution is pursuing a different part of the commercial opportunity presented by the expo.
- The Tanzania Tea Board is seeking buyers and investors for the tea sector.
- TanTrade is promoting Tanzanian goods and improving their visibility among international customers.
- The Warehouse Receipts Regulatory Board is part of the country’s broader effort to support trade-related systems.
- BRELA and TISEZA are involved in business registration, investment and special economic zones.
Bringing these bodies into one national presence allows Tanzania to present more than individual products. It also enables prospective partners to engage with institutions responsible for the rules, registration processes and investment environment surrounding those products.
Tea exports to China gather pace
Beatrice Banzi, director of the Tanzania Tea Board, said Tanzanian tea exports to China began developing gradually in 2023 and 2024, with additional growth recorded in 2025 and 2026. She linked part of the expansion to favourable trading conditions, including a zero-tariff policy.
“China is an important market for tea, and this expo gives us an opportunity to connect directly with potential buyers.”
Banzi said the exhibition was being used to demonstrate the potential of Tanzanian tea and identify ways to increase its presence in China. Two Chinese companies had already shown interest in importing Tanzanian tea, requesting samples that were supplied together with contact details to support further discussions.
That development does not yet represent a completed export contract, but it illustrates the practical purpose of trade exhibitions: converting product displays into buyer contacts, samples and possible commercial negotiations. For producers, each additional market can help reduce reliance on a limited number of destinations, although the source material does not provide export values, volumes or confirmed orders.
Beyond one market
Tanzania’s presence at the expo is not confined to China. Banzi said the participation of more than 100 countries created an opportunity to present Tanzanian tea to buyers from other markets as well. The country is also looking for investors interested in different stages of the tea value chain.
| Focus | Objective at the expo |
|---|---|
| Tea | Secure buyers, provide samples and attract value-chain investors |
| Trade promotion | Increase international visibility of Tanzanian products |
| Investment | Connect potential investors with national institutions |
| Market access | Explore Chinese and wider international opportunities |
Investment across the value chain could mean more than selling unprocessed agricultural goods, although no specific projects or investment amounts were announced in the available information. The emphasis on different stages of production suggests an ambition to deepen commercial activity around tea rather than focus solely on the export of the finished crop.
Implications for African exporters
TanTrade is using the event to raise the profile of Tanzanian products and reinforce their national identity among international buyers. The strategy reflects the competitive reality facing African exporters: market access depends not only on producing goods, but also on meeting buyers directly, maintaining product information and creating credible links between companies and public institutions.
For Tanzanian businesses, the immediate benefits are potential buyer contacts, wider exposure and access to investment conversations. For households and workers, the longer-term significance would depend on whether those discussions lead to increased production, processing and employment. The source does not confirm that any investment agreements have been signed, so the results will need to be measured through actual contracts, export growth and new commercial capacity.
The developments described here are not financial advice. They show Tanzania’s trade and investment priorities at the CIIE, rather than guaranteeing outcomes for individual businesses, producers or investors.
