Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. – Saturday: Stanbic Bank Tanzania did something few sponsors do, it put its own team on the court. At the opening of the 2026 Chinese Basketball Tournament at Don Bosco Grounds, Namanga, the Bank handed over a TZS 30 million sponsorship and then laced up to compete, deepening a partnership with Tanzania’s Chinese community. The cheque was received in the presence of the Guest of Honour, the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Her Excellency Chen Mingjian.
Beyond its role as sponsor, Stanbic Bank also fielded its own team in the competition. The Bank’s participation as both sponsor and competitor reflects a relationship that has deepened season after season, using sport as a platform to build business connections, foster community engagement and promote cultural exchange.
The tournament has become one of the most enduring platforms for cross-community engagement in Tanzania, bringing together Chinese businesses, community leaders and long-term partners in a shared celebration of sport and friendship. For Stanbic, it is an opportunity to strengthen relationships beyond the transaction, while giving employees the chance to represent the Bank on the court through its basketball team.
Speaking ahead of the opening ceremony, Ester Manase, Head of Corporate & Investment Banking at Stanbic Bank Tanzania, said the sponsorship reflected the Bank’s commitment to meaningful engagement that extends well beyond banking.
“Over the years, this tournament has been one of our most valued platforms for engaging the Chinese community in Tanzania because strong partnerships are built through shared experiences, not transactions alone. That same commitment underpins our work through Standard Bank Group, our partnership with ICBC and our Chinese Desk, which connects Chinese businesses to opportunities across Tanzania and Africa,” she said.
“Our TZS 30 million sponsorship is about more than funding a competition. By taking part as both sponsor and competitor, we are demonstrating that our engagement is genuine and enduring. We remain committed to partnerships that foster community engagement, cultural exchange and shared growth, and we are proud to stand alongside the Chinese community once again this year,” she added.
Attending as Guest of Honour, Her Excellency Chen Mingjian, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Tanzania, commended Stanbic Bank’s sustained support and welcomed the role the tournament plays in bringing the two communities closer together.
“The relationship between China and Tanzania is deep-rooted, and it grows stronger through moments like these, where sport unites us in a spirit of goodwill and mutual respect. I commend Stanbic Bank for its consistent support of this tournament over the years. Such partnerships between businesses and communities are exactly what strengthen the bonds between our two peoples and reflect the enduring friendship between our nations,” said Ambassador Chen.
For his part, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Mr. Gerson Msigwa, commended the Chinese business community for its continued partnership and contribution to Tanzania’s economic growth. He also praised their commitment to organizing the tournament annually and expressed his appreciation to all the sponsors who stepped forward to support and ensure the success of the competition.
Msigwa said sports remain one of the most powerful tools for building friendship and mutual understanding between nations. “China and Tanzania enjoy a long-standing comprehensive strategic partnership. Our cooperation covers infrastructure, trade, tourism, education, sports, and culture. Events like this today are among the strongest bonds of friendship and cooperation between the people of Tanzania and our friends from China,” he said.
The Chinese Basketball Tournament serves as an important platform for networking, relationship-building and cultural exchange between stakeholders from both communities. Through its continued involvement, Stanbic Bank reaffirms its commitment to supporting initiatives that create lasting social value and bring people together around shared ambitions.
As the partnership enters its next chapter, Stanbic Bank remains committed to strengthening its ties with the Chinese community in Tanzania and to supporting platforms that promote engagement, partnership and mutual growth between the two communities.
