Mozambican entrepreneur inspired to grow business after attending China-Africa trade expo

Rukssana Saide, Mozambican entrepreneur of Dream Agro Business, is interviewed with Xinhua in Maputo, Mozambique, on July 11, 2023. Rukssana Saide founded Dream Agro Business seven years ago to help local farmers tap the agricultural potential of the land in Niassa Province, in northern Mozambique. (Photo by Israel Zefanias/Xinhua)

MAPUTO, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Rukssana Saide founded Dream Agro Business seven years ago to help local farmers tap the agricultural potential of the land in Niassa Province, in northern Mozambique.

The company is called "Dream," because it is her dream to develop communities through agricultural business, and eventually make energy accessible to everyone, Saide told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Saide's attendance at the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) in Changsha, the capital of central China's Hunan Province, has inspired her to grow her business, and her dream, further.

"The trip exceeded my expectations. I met many partners, and I was impressed by China's strong infrastructure, even in rural areas," she said, recalling her experience in China for the CAETE, which was held from June 29 to July 2.

At the expo, Saide clinched a tentative agreement to export sesame to China, at an initial volume of about 3,000 tons a year.

Currently, Dream Agro Business, in collaboration with community farmers, produces cereals, grains, soybeans, and sesame, for the domestic market, and exports oilseeds to foreign markets, such as the United Arab Emirates, and in the future, to China, she said.

The firm also plans to build storage spaces for harvested products, to facilitate sustainable and competitive trade, Saide said.

"During the event, I got in touch with a Chinese company that is interested in making investments here, setting up solar panels to supply energy to the irrigation installations in the production fields," she said.

Dream Agro Business has an area of 830 hectares for crops; it also purchases products from local farmers with poor access to roads and telecommunication services. Niassa is the largest and poorest province in Mozambique.

The firm is also dedicated to helping local women, especially young graduates in search of jobs. Of 30 employees in her company, 15 are women, Saide said.

"We also provide technical training and agricultural inputs such as seeds," she said.