About 400 tonnes of flowers, fruits and vegetables were air freighted to markets in Europe by a subsidiary company of the Tanzania Horticultural Association (Taha), during the past five months.
Taha Fresh Handling Limited, was established by the association late last year under a Usaid Tanzania Airfreight Programme to assist horticulture exporters.
The company inaugural cargo flight took off from the Kilimanjaro International Airport on December 7, last year, and has since transported over 400 tonnes of horticultural produce to Europe.
Ms Jacquiline Mkindi, Taha executive director, said in a statement here yesterday that Tanzanian exporters now have a reliable, cost effective airfreight access to compete in international markets.
In a major public-private partnership deal, Usaid helped the company to successfully negotiate with private and public operators to lower charges at KIA to make the airport more competitive.
Until recently, Tanzanian flower growers had limited access to reliable airfreight service. Many growers were forced to truck their flowers and fruits to distant airports such as Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.
Meanwhile, nearly 250 business firms, corporate bodies and non-government institutions, are expected to take part in the 10th edition of the Karibu Travel and Tourism Fair next week.
So far 219 participants have confirmed to take part in the three-day event slated for June 5 at the Magereza open grounds near the Arusha airport.
Mr Mustapha Akunaay, the executive director of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (Tato), the fair organisers, told reporters here yesterday that foreign travel and tour firms are expected from at least 10 countries.
They include Kenya (10), Uganda (5), Rwanda (2), South Africa (2), Democratic Republic of Congo, Belgium, Germany, China and others expected to confirm participation in the last minute.
He said some 192 local firms would take part in the three-day fair, an annual event which will this year be graced by a sports bonanza to involve football teams from leading tour firms.
Mr Akunaay added that Tato and other stakeholders will spend Sh250 million to organise the fair, now one of the leading tourism fairs in the East Africa.
He said through Karibu Travel and Tourism Fair, the country's tourism attractions have been promoted in major markets abroad leading to the fast growth of the sector, now generating about $1 billion annually.
