Mwinyi to officiate Dar Trade Fair launch as Made in Tanzania logo set for debut

Dar es Salaam. Zanzibar President, Dr Hussein Mwinyi, is set to officiate the opening of the 49th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) on July 7, marking a shift from previous years when the event was launched earlier in the month.

This year’s fair will also witness the official unveiling of the Made in Tanzania logo, a national branding initiative designed to give Tanzanian products a distinct and recognisable identity in international markets.

The announcements were made on Wednesday by the minister for Industry and Trade, Dr Selemani Jafo, during a tour of exhibition pavilions at the Julius Nyerere Grounds in Dar es Salaam.

Dr Jafo said that the trade fair, which will run until July 13, will be closed by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa.

He described this year’s event as a critical platform for Tanzanian businesses to position themselves competitively in regional and continental markets.

“We are members of the East African Community (EAC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which gives us access to over 1.4 billion consumers,” he noted.

Dr Jafo emphasised that DITF is now an international exhibition, attracting companies from around the world and contributing significantly to the national economy through trade and investment.

Regarding the Made in Tanzania logo, he said the initiative was developed through a participatory process involving over 90 companies, with the final design approved after extensive consultation.

The logo is expected to be officially launched by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko. “The logo is a strategic tool for branding our products. Despite high levels of production, many Tanzanian goods remain unrecognised abroad. For example, while domestic cement demand is 8 million tonnes, we produce 10 million tonnes. We also expect to reach full sugar self-sufficiency by 2027,” he said.

He further noted the growing glass production capacity in Tanzania as another example of industries ready for export, underlining the importance of a unified branding symbol.

Local traders have welcomed the logo. Sauda Kipendi, a spice entrepreneur, said it would ease entry into foreign markets.

“This logo gives us a professional edge. Until now, every business used its own branding. We’ve waited long enough, and we’re excited it’s finally here,” she said.

This year’s DITF has attracted exhibitors from 23 countries and over 3,400 companies, creating a wide array of business and networking opportunities for local and international participants.