Opportunity for Tanzania to Expand Exports of Processed Agricultural Products

TLDR

• It presents an opportunity to improve the competitiveness of African products, expand production, attract investment and accelerate industrialisation through stronger participation in global value chains.
• The new policy comes at a time when African economies are seeking to diversify their sources of export earnings, expand manufacturing and reduce excessive dependence on exports of unprocessed commodities.
• For Tanzania, the new Chinese tariff policy presents an important opportunity to expand exports of agricultural products, minerals and manufactured goods.
• Agricultural commodities such as coffee, cashew nuts, cotton and horticultural products can generate greater returns when they are processed and packaged locally.
• Instead of exporting primarily raw commodities, Tanzania can increasingly target processed and branded products capable of commanding higher prices and creating more employment along the value chain.