Tanzanian entrepreneur Joanita Cornellius Mutayoba has called for urgent reforms to export approval procedures with China, saying system delays have forced some local businesses to abandon export opportunities despite growing demand in the Chinese market.
Speaking after the “Zero Tariff for Shared Opportunities” Tanzania-China exporters breakfast meeting held at the Johari Rotana, Mutayoba said challenges surrounding China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) system remain one of the biggest obstacles facing Tanzanian exporters.
The event, organized by Tanzania’s Ministry of Industry and Trade in collaboration with the Chinese government, focused on helping Tanzanian businesses benefit from China’s newly implemented zero-tariff policy for African countries with diplomatic ties to Beijing.
Mutayoba, who is the Director of JD Core Stores and has been involved in exporting agricultural and blue economy products, said the lengthy approval process under GACC can take between two and three years, discouraging many businesses from continuing with export plans.
“We are on the losing side because China will still source products from other countries if Tanzania delays,” she said.
She urged the government to designate experts from institutions, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade, TanTrade, or the Tanzanian embassy in China, to receive specialized training on the GACC application process to fast-track processes in order to support local exporters more effectively.
According to Mutayoba, improving the system would help Tanzanian businesses compete internationally while creating jobs and expanding economic opportunities, particularly for women involved in agricultural exports and food processing.
“There are many women in these businesses who have struggled silently,” she said, adding that the new trade framework offers a significant opportunity for Tanzanian entrepreneurs if implementation challenges are resolved.
Mutayoba also expressed willingness to personally learn more about the export procedures in order to help guide other Tanzanian business owners seeking access to the Chinese market.
Her remarks reflect broader concerns among exporters over policy reforms, even as Tanzania and China deepen economic cooperation through expanded market access and trade facilitation initiatives.
