Mwinyi wants manufacturers make competitive products

Dar es Salaam. Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi has asked manufacturers to make products that can compete in the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA).

He made the appeal during the closing ceremony of the 47th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) held for 16 consecutive days from June 28. Over 3 million people visited the exhibitions.

It was also revealed that products and services worth over Sh3.8 billion were sold during the trade fair.

Director of the Tanzania Business Development Authority (Tantrade), Latifa Khamis said the sales recorded this year showed an increase of Sh2 billion compared to Sh3.6 billion collected last year.

He said they were also able to secure orders worth Sh16 billion through face-to-face meeting, saying Tantrade will closely monitor the agreements.

Through the exhibition, there were also nine cooperation agreements in various sectors and areas, among them, the purchase of 30,000 tons of cotton per year between the Tanzania Cotton Board (TCB) and an Algerian company.

Cooperation between colleges, online training, agricultural business, biotechnology and food science agreements were signed.

Yesterday, Dr Mwinyi asked businessmen to do productive business with great honesty and produce products with the required quality.

"Markets are particularly competitive at the African Free Continental Area (AfcTA), the scope of markets has expanded and provided opportunities to do business with African countries," he said.

"Let’s take advantage of these existing opportunities, let us use these opportunities to find markets for our products in areas that we benefit from, including countries in Sadc bloc and the East African Community (EAC).

He asked Tantrade to conduct research on new markets and provide information to traders.

"Businessmen, please make sure you increase the production of products that are in great demand in the local and foreign markets like sugar, wheat flour, cooking oil and construction materials to meet the needs of the local and foreign markets," said Dr Mwinyi.

To achieve that, he asked institutions that manage business to eliminate bureaucracy and facilitate business, adding that the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and Tanzania will work together to promote businesses and investments.

Zanzibar minister of Trade and Industrial Development, Omari Said Shaaban said they will continue to improve and facilitate business between Zanzibar and the Mainland Tanzania.