Tanzania Horticultural Exporters Ink Deals Worth $1.6 Million in Asia Show
They urge TAHA to engage the government to consider having bilateral trade agreements with the Asian countries.
TUESDAY September 23, 2025
By Adam Ihucha
The Tranquility News Correspondent, Hong Kong
Tanzania’s horticultural exporters have landed fresh export contracts worth $1.6 million at Asia Fruit Logistica 2025, underscoring the country’s growing footprint in the global produce trade.
The Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) confirmed that its members struck deals with international buyers across Asia and the Middle East during the just ended Asia fruit logistica 2025.
Indian importers committed $200,000, while buyers from China signed contracts worth $100,000.
Additional agreements included $500,000 in sales to Middle Eastern countries, several smaller consignments exceeding $100,000, and a flagship contract valued at $700,000.
TAHA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jacqueline Mkindi, who led the delegation, said the response from buyers highlights Tanzania’s rising competitiveness in supplying high-demand produce such as avocado, sweet melon, chili, vegetables, banana, orange, and mango.
“This strong interest reflects the untapped potential of Tanzania’s horticulture industry, but unlocking Asia’s market requires supportive trade policies and stronger government engagement,” Dr Mkindi emphasized.
Exporters at the fair urged TAHA to engage the government of Tanzania to have bilateral trade agreements with countries including Japan, India, China, Malaysia, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and North Korea.
They said such bilateral treaties would harmonize trade policies, ease restrictions, and enable Tanzanian produce to enter premium markets more competitively.
One exhibitor who asked to be anonymous singled out Japan’s avocado market as a major opportunity: “Japan is a huge market for Tanzanian avocados, but we need policy alignment to reduce restrictions and make exports viable.”
Transport logistics also emerged as a pressing issue.
Exporters pointed to high airfreight costs to Russia, which reduce Tanzania’s competitiveness compared to regional rivals, particularly the northern neighbor, Kenya.
They called for innovative transport solutions to unlock Russia’s growing demand for fresh produce.
Another priority identified was access to India’s Valencia orange market; with exporters pushing for faster government-led negotiations to open up what they believe could be a stable, long-term market for Tanzanian farmers.
TAHA CEO expressed her gratitude on behalf of the horticultural industry players to acknowledge support from TradeMark Africa (TMA), SIDA, and the World Food Programme (WFP), who co-financed the initiative.
Dr. Mkindi concluded that with the right policy support, Tanzania could significantly scale up its horticulture exports, driving job creation, boosting foreign exchange earnings, and strengthening rural livelihoodsΩ
