Bilateral trade between China and Tanzania surged to $4.1 billion in the first five months of 2025, underscoring the growing economic partnership between the two countries, China’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms. Chen Mingjian, announced on Sunday.
Speaking during the official launch of the Chinese Business Day and the Chinese Pavilion at the 49th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), popularly known as Sabasaba, Ms. Chen said the achievements attained from January to May 2025, attributing the growth to sustained cooperation in trade, investment, and diplomacy.
“China has remained Tanzania’s leading trading partner for several years. This progress is the result of consistent exports and imports between our two nations,” she said.
Tanzania’s key exports to China include agricultural products such as coffee and cashew nuts, while China supplies machinery, mobile devices, and technology products to the Tanzanian market.
Ms. Chen highlighted that over 300 Chinese companies are now operating in Tanzania across sectors including manufacturing, infrastructure, mining, and technology. Their growing presence at DITF reflects deepening commercial ties, with participation increasing from 30 companies in 2021 to more than 200 in 2025.
She further noted that President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s official visits to China in November 2022 and September 2024 significantly reinforced diplomatic and economic relations.
“President Samia’s meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping resulted in the signing of 15 bilateral cooperation documents, aimed at expanding collaboration in various strategic sectors,” Ms. Chen said.
Zanzibar’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industrial Development, Dr. Fatma Khamis, echoed the ambassador’s remarks, emphasizing the breadth of cooperation between the two nations.
“Our partnership with China goes beyond trade. It includes technology transfer, capacity building, technical cooperation, and cultural exchange,” she said. “We encourage more Chinese investors to explore opportunities in both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.”
Dr. Khamis stressed that Sabasaba continues to serve as a vital bridge for international business linkages, enabling Tanzanian entrepreneurs to engage in joint ventures, business-to-business (B2B) meetings, and global networking.
Ms. Latifa Mohamed Khamis, Director General of the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), said the DITF remains the country’s premier international trade exhibition and a crucial gateway for market access.
“China has consistently led in terms of exhibitor numbers, reinforcing the strength and longevity of our bilateral economic ties,” she said. “We look forward to welcoming even more Chinese firms in future editions.”
The 49th edition of the DITF continues to attract hundreds of exhibitors from across the world, solidifying Tanzania’s position as a key trade and investment hub in the region.