Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Equity Bank Tanzania has announced a special financial and training package to support women entrepreneurs who will represent the country at the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE), set to take place in Shanghai in November 2025.
The initiative is part of the bank’s flagship “Mwanamke Plus” programme under its Women and Youth Banking Unit, which aims to economically empower women and youth through improved access to finance, business training, and international exposure.
Speaking during a media briefing in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, Equity Bank’s Head of Women and Youth Banking, Ms. Jacqueline Temu, said the initiative would enable Tanzanian women entrepreneurs to not only showcase their products on the global stage but also build valuable trade networks with international buyers and investors.
“We believe women can compete at the global level if given the right tools,” Ms. Temu said. “Through Mwanamke Plus, we are supporting women-owned businesses to access finance, improve product quality, and gain exposure to international markets such as China.”
She explained that the bank will provide both financial support and business advisory services to the selected entrepreneurs, helping them to cover logistics, branding, and compliance costs required for international exhibitions.
The China International Import Expo is one of the world’s largest trade events, bringing together businesses from over 150 countries.
For Tanzanian entrepreneurs, participation offers a unique opportunity to connect with potential partners and expand export markets for locally made goods such as textiles, spices, handicrafts, beauty products, and agricultural produce.
According to Ms. Temu, many women-owned businesses in Tanzania face barriers such as limited capital, lack of access to export markets, and low visibility.
The bank’s support is designed to bridge these gaps. “Our goal is to create opportunities that allow women to transition from small-scale traders to exporters and business leaders,” she said. “When women grow, the economy grows.”
Under the Mwanamke Plus programme, Equity Bank has partnered with organizations such as the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade) and China’s Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) to offer mentorship, export readiness training, and financial literacy workshops ahead of the fair.
The training focuses on areas such as:
• Product packaging and branding for international markets
• Understanding export regulations and trade standards
• Building partnerships and accessing trade finance
• Digital marketing and e-commerce
Ms. Temu emphasized that the programme also aligns with the government’s ongoing efforts to boost women’s participation in trade and investment, in line with Tanzania’s Vision 2025 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) goals.
Several beneficiaries of the programme expressed gratitude for the opportunity.
Ms. Amina Ally, a spice processor from Zanzibar, said the support from Equity Bank would help her reach international buyers for the first time.
“I’ve been selling locally for years, but this is the first time my products will be seen by global customers,” she said. “Equity Bank’s training helped me understand export documentation and improve my packaging.”
Equity Bank launched the Mwanamke Plus initiative in 2022 to address gender gaps in financial access and entrepreneurship. Since then, the programme has supported over 20,000 women entrepreneurs across Tanzania with loans, savings products, and training opportunities.
“We are not just financing women; we are building a community of changemakers,” Ms. Temu added. “Empowering women means empowering families, communities, and the nation.”
The bank plans to expand the Mwanamke Plus initiative to reach more regions in 2026, including Mbeya, Dodoma, and Mwanza, with a focus on agribusiness and manufacturing.
As Tanzanian women prepare to take part in the China trade fair, the initiative is being seen as a symbol of the country’s growing confidence in women’s economic leadership.
“This is not just about business; it’s about changing mindsets,” Ms. Temu concluded. “Women can lead, trade, and transform Tanzania’s economy.”
