JK tells manufacturers to add value on their products

PRESIDENT Jakaya Kiwete on Thursday night directed industrial product manufacturers in the country to add value on their products so as to achieve an international accreditation which would enable them to lead in global business competition. He made the concern at the award giving ceremony that recognized best local manufacturers of the year 2012 from 17 selected economic sub sectors that were presented with certificates and trophies at the occasion which was organized by the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) through its President’s Manufacturer of the Year Award (PMYA) that took place at Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam. In this year’s award, the organizers announced the Tanzania Distilleries Limited the overall winner, other winners from three contesting categories grouped in small, medium and large categories were Prestige industries Ltd (small industries), DPI Simba Ltd (medium industries) and Kioo Limited (large industries).  The occasion which was fully sponsored by the IPP Limited is the eighth running annual event which was established in 2005 by CTI with the aim of recognizing and appreciating the manufacturing sector’s important role in Tanzania’s economic development process. In appreciation, the organizers awarded the IPP Limited Chairman, Dr. Reginald Mengi with an appreciation plague for the sponsorship of the event, who after the presidenbt’s speech, he thanked him with assurance that, through action they are able to perform. This is because the industrial sector with its strong backward and forward linkages has the unique capacity to provide activities with high value addition, wealth creation and employment creation that are key to economic growth and poverty reduction. The occasion also enables key stakeholders to share experiences on matters related to their daily activities. In the occasion, the President threw the challenge to manufacturers shortly after he had received claims from industrialists in a speech which was preceded by the Chairman of the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) Felix Mosha who requested the government to look at the means on how they could improve their industrial productions to higher standards. In reply, the President reaffirmed them that, his government depends on their innovations and creativity in order to achieve the utmost standards of their product manufacturing processes despite of the challenges facing the industrialists such as the continued erratic power supply in the country. The President assured them that, this would come to an end when the gas pipeline project currently in construction at the main station at Kinyerezi from Mtwara starts operation. He noted that, the government recognizes the importance of industries and manufacturers as is the most crucial sector which has the largest revenue contribution to the government treasury, and added that, it’s imperative therefore to give the sector the priority it deserves for being a driving engine of the national economic development growth. “The industrial revolution and their production in the country depend entirely on your own decision as members of this confederation” the President said urging them to make a strategic plan for a certain period to work through to achieve the targets. However, he insisted that trade competition is inevitable by any means whatsoever, so what is needed at this juncture is to cope with the emerging trend in terms of technology in order to ward off all obstacles lying ahead and by doing so would pave the way for success. “I urge you to add value on your products to become the leading producers with best quality, and if possible should you put a roadmap on how to go about it”, he said assured them that under that spirit the country would change industrially within ten years to come. The President also assured them that, the government is currently working on the problem of the basic infrastructures such as railway for transport, and is also working on the availability of water supply to ensure adequate electricity supply as currently the power generation largely depends on hydro power energy.