Tanzania is seeking to attract international buyers for its agricultural produce, with white sesame seeds emerging as one of the commodities drawing interest at the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.
The Warehouse Receipts Regulatory Board (WRRB) is using the November 5-10, 2026 exhibition to promote the country's Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) and showcase investment and trading opportunities in the agricultural sector.
The participation is aimed at connecting Tanzanian agricultural producers with international buyers while building confidence in the quality, storage and marketing of locally produced commodities.
Through the system, agricultural produce is stored in licensed warehouses, where quality is safeguarded before commodities are traded through a more transparent and organised process.
During a visit to Tanzania's pavilion, Zanzibar's Minister for Trade and Industrial Development, Mr Omar Said Shabaan, commended the country's participation, particularly the involvement of government institutions.
He said the international exhibition offered an opportunity for public institutions to showcase their services and promote Tanzania's economic potential to prospective international partners.
Mr Shabaan stressed the importance of using such platforms strategically to reach global buyers and increase the visibility of Tanzanian products in international markets.
The country's participation has already attracted interest from potential buyers, with a representative of Chengdu Jintao Yunhui International Trade Co Ltd expressing interest in Tanzania's white sesame seeds.
The commodity is among agricultural products marketed through the Warehouse Receipt System.
The interest presents an opportunity to explore trade links between Tanzanian suppliers and Chinese buyers, potentially creating wider markets for locally produced sesame.
For Tanzania, the challenge is to translate the exposure gained at international exhibitions into actual trade agreements and sustained demand for its agricultural commodities.
The Warehouse Receipt System is expected to support this ambition by improving produce handling, maintaining quality standards and providing a more structured trading environment that can strengthen the competitiveness of Tanzanian agricultural products.