In brief
Rwandan honey export firm M&M Sozo Ltd. is set to display its natural‑processed honey at the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai from Nov. 5‑10. Founder Grace Mbabazi highlights China’s zero‑tariff policy and the expo’s free booth and green‑channel provisions as key to accessing Chinese buyers. Rwanda’s honey sector, part of a 120,000‑beekeeper workforce, is also positioned as a priority product under FAO’s initiative.
M&M Sozo Ltd., a Kigali‑based honey producer, will exhibit its natural‑processed honey at the ninth China International Import Expo, scheduled for Nov. 5‑10 in Shanghai.
Founder and chief executive officer Grace Mbabazi built the company in the Kicukiro District, after years of selling honey in Rwanda’s domestic market.
China’s zero‑tariff policy fuels growth
The company is vying for market share under China’s zero‑tariff policy that waives imports from 53 African countries, an initiative designed to boost trade ties. Mbabazi said the policy is “a huge advantage” for Rwandan exporters looking to navigate China’s complex logistics and customs procedures.
“Our experience at the CIIE showed that the expo can help local businesses build commercial partnerships and introduce products such as honey to Chinese consumers,” Mbabazi told Xinhua.
She also highlighted the expo’s free exhibition booths, green channel arrangements for products exported to China, and other preferential measures for exhibitors from Rwanda and other African nations, noting that these support options can lower marketing and participation costs.
Rwanda’s honey sector is positioned as a priority product under the Food and Agriculture Organization’s One Country One Priority Product initiative. According to data from 2022 released by the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board, the country has roughly 120,000 beekeepers spread across five major beekeeping zones, including Akagera National Park and Kigali City.
With her first CIIE attendance in 2024, Mbabazi views the upcoming expo as a stepping stone to deeper engagement with Chinese buyers, importers, and distributors, aiming to expand the company’s beekeeping operations and market presence in the coming years.
