Tanzanian seaweed farmer sees 'gold' at import expo

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania — A stone's throw away from the Indian Ocean coastline in Zanzibar, the soft-spoken Saphia Hashim Makame is busy selling seaweed products in her tiny shop in Bweleo.

Saphia, a 58-year-old mother of six children, has been a seaweed farmer since 1998. She could hardly contain her excitement when she learned that seaweed products will be exhibited at the 6th China International Import Expo, or CIIE, for the first time. The CIIE will be held in Shanghai from Nov 5 to 10.

"I am overjoyed over this good news. The expo will definitely open doors for seaweed products to the huge Chinese market," she said as she arranged seaweed products in her shop.