Local News

Kigoda wants Dar trade fair improved

Dr Abdallah Kigoda

THE Minister for Industry and Trade, Dr Abdallah Kigoda, officially closed the 36th Dar es Salaam International Trade Affair on Sunday with a promise that the government would improve it.

Dr Kigoda said the government would also ease immigration procedures for foreigners keen on participating in the exhibition and remove any hurdles at the Port to enable products for exhibition from participating foreign countries to be cleared on time.

Because of a big turnout of members of the public, the Minister of Industry and Trade, has also directed the management of Tanzania Trade Development Authority (Tantrade) to let the exhibitors sell their products until Tuesday.

Dr Kigoda said Tantrade should find an investor and get into partnership with the objective of improving the infrastructure at the DITF and build modern pavilions that will accommodate more exhibitors and reflect an international outlook.

He said local businesses in this year's trade fair have products of high quality and standard, noting that Tanzanians should change the culture of parading imported goods.

"We have seen products of high quality in this year's exhibition. We need to promote these products so that Tanzanians can cultivate the culture of buying locally made products to promote our industries and create job opportunities," he explained.

He also advised local businesses to utilize raw material found in the country, noting that foreign companies buy them at low costs only to bring products made from the raw materials at  higher prices.

He said Tanzania is the only country in  East Africa that still exports cattle hides. This affects job markets and industries in the country.

"We have to decide on this issue because other countries, such as Kenya and Ethiopia do not allow exports of raw hides. This safeguards their job markets and promotes their industries," he added.

Earlier, Tantrade Acting Director General Mr Samuel Mvingira, said that the firms that participated in the trade fair included 53 foreign companies and 43 local companies held 43 networking business group meetings.

These include textiles, electronics, leather, food processing, Agriculture, Construction and those making traditional jewelry from beads benefited from the meetings.He also noted that Tantrade plans installing CCTV Cameras at the DIFT grounds in order to track thieves.

"Despite the high level of security we had at the trade fair grounds, we have had cases of people stealing from the exhibitors. We plan to stop this by installing CCTV Cameras," he explained.