Kikwete praises entrepreneurs at DITF

AS Tanzania is striving to increase the quality of its industrial products in readiness for global market competition, the government has urged local entrepreneurs to be more innovative so as to increase packaging technology of their goods. The call to entrepreneurs was made by President Jakaya Kikwete in early July this year during his tour of the 36^th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) exhibition popularly known as Sabasaba which started on 28^th June and reach at its climax today. President Kikwete toured about 17 pavilions most of which were those that showcased entrepreneurs’ goods. He was however impressed by the technological way of packing their products which he said was good to the utmost international standard. During his tour of the visit, Prsident Kikwete was accompanied by his Minister of Trade, Industry and Marketing Dr. Abdalah Kigoda among the dignitaries including his wife Salma Kikwete.  “I am very pleased by the way our local entrepreneurs have tried to improve in packing their goods, and this really shows how they have advanced their technological skills” he said adding that, the products are of high quality compared to those of the preceding years.

The President of te United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete

Either the President thanked the participation of both local and foreign companies which he said had increased this year. He also urged local entrepreneurs to build confidence within themselves so as to be enable to fair in business competition within East African regional market, an aspect which the President had observed would shape Tanzania products in an international business arena. He has however asked the local entrepreneurs to increase their production capacity as well as to ensure the quality standards of the industrial products to meet the international standards, by this he noted that they would be able to dominate the local market and East Africa region as a whole. The President and his entourage took about 7 hours walking around the selected 17 pavilions before giving his briefings to journalists late in the evening. Among the pavilions he visited was that of then Rwanda’s entrepreneurs just to mention a few. Others were, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Parastatal Pension Fund (PPF), National Service pavilion and the University of Dar es Salaam, the Prisons among the government pavilions, while others were the National Economic and Empowerment Council (NEEC) which empowers entrepreneurs in the country, Equal Opportunity Trust Fund (EOTF) and Zanzibar trade pavilion. DITF has established itself over the years as the show window for Tanzanian product and services in East, Central and Southern Africa region. Supported by the services of Dar es Salaam habour, the fair acts as one stop centre for reaching countries in this region. The fair serves as an excellent international trading platform in terms of size, number of exhibitors, range of products and accountability of information. It enjoys support of the government through the ministry of Trade, Industry and Marketing and patronage of the Tanzania business community.