On December 1, the “Overseas Training Program on Coconut Variety Improvement and Crop Pest and Disease Control in Zanzibar,” sponsored by China’s Ministry of Commerce and organized by the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), officially opened in Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania. More than 50 participants attended the opening ceremony, including Li Qianghua, Chinese Consul General in Zanzibar; Suleiman Makame, Zanzibar’s Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock; experts from CATAS; and local trainees.
In his remarks, Consul General Li Qianghua commended the careful organization of the training program. He emphasized that tropical agriculture is a pillar of Zanzibar’s economy, and that this training is not only a vivid example of South–South cooperation, but also a concrete step in implementing the outcomes of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation. It aligns closely with Zanzibar’s agricultural development strategies. He expressed special appreciation for CATAS—particularly its Institute of Agro-Products Processing—for the strong support provided to the project, and expressed hope that the trainees would make full use of what they learn to inject new momentum into local agricultural development.
Minister Suleiman Makame warmly welcomed the arrival of the Chinese experts and expressed gratitude for China’s continued support. He stressed Zanzibar’s strong desire to enhance cooperation with China in increasing the yield of tropical crops, improving processing technologies, and advancing industrial upgrading. He believed the training would significantly promote high-quality agricultural development in Zanzibar. He highly praised the dedication of the Chinese expert team and encouraged all trainees to cherish the opportunity, apply their knowledge in practice, and jointly deepen agricultural cooperation between China and Tanzania (Zanzibar).
Liao Liangkun, Associate Researcher at the Institute of Agro-Products Processing of CATAS, delivered a speech on behalf of the expert team. He noted that CATAS and Zanzibar’s agricultural authorities have established a solid foundation for cooperation. Based on extensive preliminary research, the training program is designed around Zanzibar’s agricultural characteristics and key industries, integrating theory with practical application to provide feasible technological solutions. He looked forward to engaging deeply with the trainees, sharing experience, and jointly exploring pathways for modern agricultural development.
The 20-day training program brings together seven experts from CATAS’s Institute of Agro-Products Processing, who will deliver systematic lectures on key technologies related to local tropical crops such as cloves, coconuts, and mangoes—including preservation, primary processing, deep processing, and quality and safety control. The program aims to help Zanzibar extend its agricultural value chain, enhance value addition, and advance China–Tanzania agricultural cooperation through scientific and technological collaboration, contributing to the building of an even closer China–Tanzania community with a shared future.