Zanzibar is seeking to attract Chinese investors to establish factories producing hotel furniture, processed foods, and other essential goods to serve the rapidly expanding tourism sector. The government has pledged a business-friendly investment environment to encourage investors. This move aims to boost production and drive economic growth in the region.
Zanzibar's Minister for Trade and Industrial Development, Omar Said Shaaban, highlighted the opportunities during his address at the Yellow River Basin Enterprise Going Global and Comprehensive Services Exchange and Matchmaking Conference in Jinan, Shandong Province, China. The conference brought together over 700 industrialists and business executives from across the Yellow River Basin to promote the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and facilitate international expansion by businesses.
Zanzibar received 917,000 tourists in 2025, demonstrating the growing market and increasing demand for locally manufactured products. Minister Shaaban emphasized that the incentives offered by the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, alongside its human resources, can be leveraged to boost production and drive economic growth. He also noted that investment opportunities exist in manufacturing, trade, and services associated with tourism and the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry.
Shandong Province Vice Governor Wen Nuan outlined China's strategies for stimulating economic growth through its Going Global initiative, describing the province as one of the country's key industrial hubs. Shandong is China's third-largest provincial economy by gross domestic product (GDP), with its economic output projected to exceed 10 trillion yuan in 2025.
Minister Shaaban thanked Vice Governor Wen Nuan for agreeing to organize trade delegations to Zanzibar, allowing Chinese investors to assess first-hand the progress made in improving the islands' investment climate. This move is expected to strengthen bilateral trade and investment cooperation between Zanzibar and China.
Minister Shaaban is in China on a 10-day working visit, which began on October 26 and is scheduled to conclude on November 4, 2026, following an invitation from the Shandong Provincial Government and conference organizers. During the visit, he is scheduled to hold talks with Jinan municipal government leaders, tour industrial parks, and meet leading manufacturers.
The visit has already generated interest, with several investors expressing willingness to explore opportunities in Zanzibar, particularly in manufacturing and services across the tourism value chain. The interest shown by Chinese investors is expected to contribute to the growth of Zanzibar's economy and development of its tourism sector.
Key points
- Zanzibar received 917,000 tourists in 2025, demonstrating a growing market for locally manufactured products.
- The government of Zanzibar has pledged a business-friendly investment environment to encourage Chinese investors.
- Shandong Province, one of China's key industrial hubs, has expressed interest in strengthening bilateral trade and investment cooperation with Zanzibar.
