TCCIA urges manufacturers to use AfCFTA to create wealth

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture (TCCIA) has urged manufacturers and exporters to utilise the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to help Tanzania create wealth, create jobs, and increase foreign earnings.

TCCIA acting managing director, Ms Mwanahamisi Hussein, said the continental free trading bloc offers many opportunities that Tanzanians cannot afford to miss.

“We are offering these training sessions to expose our manufacturers and traders to the benefits and opportunities found in the AfCFTA.

“One of the many benefits is that the bloc creates a market for Tanzanian products, and the business is free from tariffs. We appeal to our exporters to use this bloc to strengthen our industrial base, create wealth and jobs, earn foreign currency, and strengthen our national economy,” she said.

She said Tanzania wants to seriously engage in continental and world trade instead of being on the receiving end.

“We want Tanzania to trade with other countries. We do not want this country to be just an importer of products from outside. We want to export our products that are needed elsewhere, especially using this free trade area,” she said.

She said TCCIA has an obligation to support government efforts, as the latter prioritises the moves and projects of the private sector.

A participant, Mr Joshua Zuberi, said the training session has exposed participants to many opportunities found in the continental trade bloc, especially the zero tariff feature.

He said the aspect benefits both Tanzanian exporters and their clients.

Another participant, Ms Maria Mtui, said the sessions have helped them understand how the bloc operates and the documents involved in doing trade within the bloc.