THE Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Asia-Europe and Africa Joint Trade and Investment Promotion Association (AEA Association) to host the first-ever China-Zimbabwe Tobacco Expo in September this year.
The expo was conceived following engagements between TIMB and AEA Association officials at the 2024 China International Import Expo in Shanghai.
The partnership is supported by the Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development ministry and ZimTrade.
The agreement aims to strengthen bilateral relations and promote collaboration between Zimbabwe and China in the tobacco sector.
The expo will bring together farmers, merchants, financiers, processors, researchers, government agencies and private sector players from Zimbabwe, China and other African countries.
“This expo is about connecting Zimbabwean tobacco growers and industry players with Chinese innovations that enhance productivity, promote sustainability and increase value addition,” said Emmanuel Matsvaire, TIMB acting chief executive officer.
“Some of the challenges we face in Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector may already have solutions in China and this expo will help to bridge that gap. We are excited about this collaboration, which will not only foster Zimbabwe-China relations but also bring new technologies and ideas that will benefit the entire tobacco value chain.”
China is Zimbabwe’s largest single consumer of tobacco, importing around 100 million kilogrammes annually, about a third of the country’s total crop.
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The expo is expected to showcase sustainable tobacco curing technologies and innovations aimed at reducing deforestation and reducing operational costs for local growers.
The collaboration aligns with Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan, which seeks to increase local value addition and reduce reliance on raw tobacco exports.
Zimbabwe has made significant strides in tobacco production, with 64 million kilogrammes of tobacco worth US$221 million sold as of April 2025.
“By bringing together global solutions to local challenges, the expo will help to reshape Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry for the future.”
