The global conversation obsessively tracks what China is doing in Africa – building ports, extracting minerals, lending infrastructure loans. But almost no one is asking the harder, more strategic question: what does it take for Africa to actually sell into China?

In this episode of Frontier Matters, we flip the script. We sit down with Hannah Ryder – one of the leading China-Africa policy experts and CEO of Development Reimagined – to explore where the real opportunities lie for African entrepreneurs looking to access Chinese markets, and how policymakers can direct their efforts for maximum developmental impact.

We also discuss:

Why trade is still so one-sided, and how to start balancing it
Which African sectors have the best shot at breaking into China right now
What Chinese policies (like tariff-free access for LDCs) actually mean on the ground
And where to focus policy energy to turn rhetoric into revenue

Hannah Ryder is the founder and CEO of Development Reimagined, a Beijing-based international development consultancy. She has served as a diplomat, economist, and senior advisor on China-Africa relations, including roles at the UN and the Chinese government. Her work focuses on practical, locally driven solutions to rebalance Africa’s economic partnerships.

A small note: The episode ends a bit abruptly – our apologies for the audio hiccup. But the conversation itself is packed with insight, and we hope you enjoy it.

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