BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Dried mango and hibiscus powder from Cote d'Ivoire, honey from Rwanda, seaweed products from Tanzania -- as the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) opens in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10, African companies are preparing to bring their signature products to China.
Since May 1 this year, China has implemented zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries with diplomatic relations. The new CIIE will upgrade the Asia-Africa product zone and continue to provide free booths for least developed countries.
In Cote d'Ivoire, Nathalie Kahi, founder of the company Deux Saisons, produces dried mango and pineapple to reduce post-harvest losses and create jobs. She hopes the expo will introduce Ivorian dried fruit to more Chinese consumers and help her find partners able to expand production capacity.
Asnate Adjie of the Ivorian brand Lyabissa plans to present hibiscus powder, including ultra-fine powder and concentrate, for use in food processing and cosmetics formulations. Her company has already sourced packaging and production equipment from Chinese suppliers.
Cote d'Ivoire's export promotion agency said the country is participating in the CIIE in an official capacity for the first time, focusing on processed products from cocoa, coffee and cashew value chains.
In Rwanda, Grace Mbabazi, founder and CEO of honey producer M&M Soho Ltd., is preparing for her second CIIE. She said free booths lower participation costs for African firms, while zero tariffs help Rwandan products become more competitive.
Nassor Rajab Dachi, head of a seaweed producer in Zanzibar, Tanzania, will bring seaweed soap and shampoo made by local women's groups. His company has recently shipped five 40-foot containers of seaweed to China and has received more orders.
Ethiopia's AWO Coffee is hoping to build on last year's success, when 100 kg of beans brought to the expo sold out. The company, founded in 2012, exports dozens of tonnes of coffee to China annually, exceeding 200 tonnes last year.
Madagascar's lamb will return to the expo. Livestock Minister Riana Nantenaina Randrianoumenjanahary said more than 700 tonnes of lamb had been exported to China by the end of 2025, benefiting over 1,600 herders and driving growth in transport, slaughtering and processing.
