In the bustling free trade zone of Shanghai's Lin-gang Special Area, Shamiso Fungura, a 28-year-old entrepreneur from Zimbabwe, is living her childhood dream. As the chief financial officer of Koki Delivery, a logistics and e-commerce startup she co-founded with her partner Rumbidzo Herbet Marembo, she is working to bridge China and Africa through technology and trade.

The seeds of this venture were planted early on in her life. "I always wanted to be a business owner," Fungura recalls. Growing up in Zimbabwe, she was fascinated by China's rapid development by watching China Central Television.

"I long felt there was an opportunity to benefit, especially in business, in a country such as China, because it is a global powerhouse when it comes to business, especially in product manufacturing and technology," she says.

Her journey to China began in 2017, starting with Chinese language studies. She went on to complete a bachelor's degree in international trade and economics at Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, followed by a master's in finance at Shanghai University, and graduating in 2024.