In brief
With 120,000 beekeepers spread across five major zones, Rwanda’s honey industry seeks new markets. Grace Mbabazi of M&M Sozo Ltd hopes to tap China’s zero‑tariff policy and free‑booth incentives at the China International Import Expo. The aim is to grow beekeeping operations, strengthen partnerships, and bring Rwandan honey to Chinese consumers.
In Kigali, on an autumn afternoon in 2026, the hum of bees and the buzz of commerce converged as Grace Mbabazi—a Rwandan entrepreneur and CEO of M&M Sozo Ltd—prepared to bring her company’s natural‑processed honey to China. Rwanda hosts around 120,000 beekeepers across five major beekeeping zones, including Akagera National Park and Kigali City, a fact that underpins the country’s growing honey sector and provides a domestic supply base that Mbabazi sees as ready for scaling.
Rwanda has maintained a sustained presence at China’s China International Import Expo (CIIE) since the event’s launch in 2018, participating in every edition. Throughout those eight years, honey has been featured as one of Rwanda’s core products, aligning with the Food and Agriculture Organization’s One Country One Priority Product initiative that designates honey as a priority for the nation.
According to a 2022 report from the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board, the country’s eleven beekeeping regions collectively maintain 120,000 beekeepers. This robust infrastructure provides Mbabazi with a supply chain capable of meeting both domestic demand and the ambitions of an expanded Chinese market.
Rwanda’s strategic partnership with China has recently been strengthened by a zero‑tariff policy covering imports from 53 African countries. The policy offers free exhibition booths, a so‑called “green channel” for processed foods, and other preferential arrangements for exhibitors from Rwanda and selected African nations. Mbabazi saw this as a direct path to reduce her company’s marketing and participation costs at the expo.
For M&M Sozo Ltd, Beijing’s openness and Shanghai’s showcase setting present a unique opportunity. The company plans to exhibit its natural‑processed honey at the ninth CIIE, scheduled to run from November 5 to 10 in Shanghai. Mbabazi credited her 2024 participation as a valuable stepping stone, describing how the event gave her direct exposure to Chinese buyers, importers, distributors, and partners.
Our experience at the CIIE showed that the expo can help local businesses build commercial partnerships and introduce products such as honey to Chinese consumers.
She posed: “We can now access a market that once seemed distant, and the preferential arrangements help us allocate more resources to product development, packaging and business promotion.” These arrangements include free booths and a streamlined “green channel” that expedites certification for processed foods destined for China.
Mbabazi’s vision extends beyond a single event. She sees the nine‑edition CIIE website as a platform for networking and the long‑term cultivation of trade relations. The initiative also serves her aim to grow M&M Sozo’s beekeeping operations, allowing her to meet the demands of Chinese buyers without sacrificing the natural quality of her honey.
In terms of environmental impact, Rwandan honey production typically relies on traditional, low‑impact beekeeping practices that support pollinator diversity. While the source article does not elaborate on these practices, Mbabazi has indicated her commitment to sustainable sourcing given the growing global emphasis on climate‑friendly supply chains.
China’s import policy and the Christmas 2026 version of the CIIE require exhibitors to meet the country’s stringent food safety standards. Mbabazi said the green‑channel eligibility accelerates compliance and eases the overall process. The lessened regulatory burden, she noted, frees her team to focus on product innovation.
Beyond an individual export strategy, Rwanda’s honey industry benefits from the national emphasis on bees as pivotal pollinators. Amid a global need for pollinator protection, the country’s 120,000 beekeepers play a critical role in sustaining biodiversity and agricultural productivity.
Efforts to expand the honey sector into China also tie into Rwanda’s broader agenda to leverage its bee population for food security and international trade. The government’s One Product Initiative manages to highlight honey as a lucrative commodity while still preserving Rwandan ecological heritage.
Those who support Mbabazi’s endeavor point to the synergy between economic growth and environmental stewardship. The bird‑friendly apicultural landscape offers Rwandans a chance to harness both financial and ecological benefits.
While the CIIE provides market access, the zero‑tariff policy assures that cost barriers stay low. Together, they create a compelling case for Rwandan honey in the Chinese grocery and gourmet markets, which refuses to compromise on quality or sustainability.
In sum, Mbabazi’s plan—the integration of Rwandan beekeeping expertise with China’s open trade policies—offers a blueprint for small‑scale producers to step onto the world stage. By turning the International Import Expo into a launchpad, she hopes to secure relationships that will herald a steady inflow of Chinese orders and foster the growth of sustainable honey production back home.
