Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The inaugural Zimbabwe-China Tobacco Expo opened lucrative Asian markets for local companies, industry players have said.
The event, held last week, attracted strong international participation, with 44 exhibitors from host nation Zimbabwe, alongside companies from Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia.
Fifteen companies exhibited under China Tobacco International, highlighting the strategic focus of the event.
According to Chelesani Tsarwe, public affairs officer for the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), the expo fulfilled its mandate by creating a vital platform for investment and connection.
“Our greatest focus was on China,” Tsarwe said.
The expo featured a business forum that drew approximately 300 delegates, underscoring the growing global interest in Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector.
It served to showcase the industry’s recent milestone: a record-breaking production of 355 million kilogrammes, which earned the country US$1,2 billion in the 2025 season.
“This milestone solidifies Zimbabwe’s position as a major player in the global tobacco market,” Tsarwe added.
TIMB aims to use such platforms to foster innovation, sustainability and market expansion, aligning with the government’s vision for agro-based economic growth.
The expo effectively created a bridge between local golden leaf companies and the vast Asian market, opening new avenues for collaboration.
“We still have a long way to go to get better benefits for tobacco growers whose value is relatively low,” noted one stakeholder who spoke on condition of anonymity.
As Zimbabwe cements its role as a tobacco giant, the success of the expo sets the stage for future partnerships and investments, Tsarwe said.
However, the call to move beyond raw exports and focus on value addition remains a key consideration for the sector’s long-term and equitable growth, she added.
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