At the Chinese-built library of the University of Dar es Salaam, hundreds of Tanzanian university graduates, vocational students, and young professionals showcased zeal and ambition at the 4th annual China–Tanzania Job Fair. Organized by the Chinese Embassy, the Chinese Enterprises Association, and the Confucius Institute, and supported by Tanzania’s Prime Minister’s Office and the university, the event attracted around 100 companies, both Chinese and joint Chinese–Tanzanian, offering hundreds of job opportunities across various sectors.
Focused on strengthening bilateral collaboration, the fair aimed to bridge the gap between education and employment. College graduates like 25-year-old Upendo Swai, trained in shipping and logistics, attended multiple interviews with Chinese firms. “I feel optimistic,” she said, citing the disciplined work culture cultivated by Chinese employers. Another attendee, Robert Salvatory Lusawa, a 28-year-old graduate from the Chongqing Vocational Institute of Engineering, described the event as a “key bridge to employment”.
From the employer side, companies emphasized their commitment to sustainable growth through local empowerment. Zhao Yufeng, General Manager of CRJE (East Africa) Ltd., noted Chinese firms have employed over 50,000 Tanzanians, directly or indirectly and stressed the importance of vocational training and technology transfer. Similarly, Wang Xiangyu of the East Africa Commercial and Logistics Center highlighted their goal of building lasting careers, not just offering jobs, while Yu Zixuan of China Communications Construction Company pledged to expand platforms for Tanzanian talent.
Chinese Ambassador Chen Mingjian praised the fair as a powerful symbol of enduring China–Tanzania friendship, stating that it aligns with Tanzania’s ambitions to boost youth employment and promote mutual development.
Tanzanian Minister Ridhiwani Jakaya Kikwete reinforced this message, celebrating the creation of over 150,000 jobs by Chinese companies in Tanzania. He encouraged jobseekers to “be proactive, be confident, and believe in your potential,” adding that their efforts would shape their families’ and nation’s future.
The event symbolized a shared pathway to personal growth, trust, and prosperity, an emblem of a flourishing partnership between China and Tanzania that extends beyond infrastructure, and into the lives and futures of young Africans.
