JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Standard Bank Group announced Monday that it will lead a delegation of 20 businesses from seven African nations to the upcoming 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE), aiming to connect regional exporters with Chinese buyers, investors, and trade partners.
The trade fair will take place Nov. 5-10 in Shanghai. This year marks Standard Bank's ninth consecutive year participating in the event.
The delegation features enterprises from South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda, the group said in a statement. Operating primarily in the agricultural and agri-processing sectors, these businesses will exhibit products including coffee, cocoa, tea, wine, avocados, cashews, sesame, and grains.
"The CIIE provides African businesses with a crucial platform to engage directly with Chinese buyers, distributors, investors, and strategic partners," said Luthando Vuba, head of International Trade at Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank Group. "It enables them to showcase their products, establish commercial relationships, and expand their presence across the Chinese market."
Since joining the expo at its inaugural edition in 2018, Standard Bank has supported more than 242 African businesses in accessing China. To date, the bank has facilitated over 500 buyer engagements and connected exporters from 12 African markets with Chinese importers and distributors.
During this year's expo, delegates will participate in targeted business matchmaking sessions, buyer meetings, and strategic trade discussions aimed at strengthening commercial ties between Africa and China.
The initiative aligns with China's broader effort to expand market access for African goods. As of May 1, 2026, China extended zero-tariff treatment to imports from all 53 African nations with which it maintains diplomatic relations, expanding preferential access to 20 non-least developed countries (LDCs) alongside the 33 LDCs that already enjoyed the benefit.
Standard Bank noted that select exports from South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria have already begun entering China under these revised tariff arrangements. The bank highlighted that the zero-tariff framework will significantly reduce trade costs, diversify export destinations, and enhance market resilience for African exporters.
Vuba added that the 20-business delegation reflects the growing entrepreneurial potential of African enterprises, emphasizing that Standard Bank remains committed to helping businesses integrate into global value chains through market intelligence, financial solutions, and strategic network expansion.
