In brief
Rwandan entrepreneur Grace Mbabazi is set to display her company’s honey at the 2024 China International Import Expo in Shanghai. She hopes the expo’s access to buyers and China’s zero‑tariff policy for African goods will boost her exports, while she plans to grow beekeeping operations in Rwanda. Her company’s participation follows a successful 2024 showcase that opened doors to Chinese distributors and importers.
Grace Mbabazi, the founder and CEO of M&M Sozo Ltd. in Kigali, is preparing to bring her natural‑processed honey to China at the 2024 China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. The expo, scheduled for November 5‑10, is a key venue for Rwanda, which has joined every edition of the event since it began in 2018.
Mbabazi has grown her company from a local honey seller into a producer with plans to expand both her beekeeping and market reach. She said her first breakout into the Chinese market came from the 2024 CIIE, where she met buyers, importers, and distributors who were eager to learn about Rwandan honey.
The Chinese government’s zero‑tariff policy for 53 African countries—including Rwanda—means that the country’s honey can enter China without duties. In addition, the expo offers free exhibition booths and a “green channel” that speeds product clearance. Mbabazi explained that these perks help keep costs low so that M&M Sozo Ltd. can invest more in product development and packaging.
Grace Mbabazi
“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,”
She plans to use the exposure to raise brand awareness, secure new distribution deals, and learn about Chinese consumer preferences. The company also aims to increase the number of beekeepers she supports in Rwanda’s five main beekeeping zones, including Akagera National Park.
With the help of the expo’s preferential measures, M&M Sozo Ltd. hopes to become a recognized honey brand for Chinese buyers and to open new export channels that were once out of reach.
