The Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade, Patrobas Katambi, has urged the East Africa Commercial and Logistics Centre (EACLC) to partner with foreign traders who bring in new technologies and skills that are not yet available in the country, to enable Tanzanian youth to learn and expand their businesses.
Speaking during a tour and the official opening of the inaugural EACLC Business Exhibition held at Ubungo in Dar es Salaam, Katambi noted that the centre’s core mandate is to educate, promote and strengthen trade within and beyond Tanzania’s borders.
He emphasized that local entrepreneurs should fully utilise the exhibition to enhance innovation, broaden markets and improve the quality of Tanzanian products, noting that such platforms provide crucial opportunities to increase productivity and competitiveness in both regional and international markets.
“In improving the business environment, the Government has amended 66 policies, laws and regulations, and reduced or removed over 380 fees, charges and fines that were a burden to traders. These measures aim to attract both local and foreign investors,” Katambi said.
He further commended EACLC Limited for organising the exhibition, which has brought together more than 200 participants and is expected to attract at least 1,000 visitors, saying the initiative supports the Sixth-Phase Government’s efforts to strengthen economic diplomacy and position Tanzania as a regional hub for trade in East, Central and Southern Africa.
Katambi also urged exhibitors to use the exhibition days to build new business networks, enter mutually beneficial agreements and refine their products to meet global standards, stressing that industrial growth requires close collaboration between the Government and the private sector.
For her part, the EACLC Limited Managing Director, Cathy Wang, said the exhibition aims to enhance trade infrastructure including warehouses, offices, exhibition spaces and logistics services, while directly linking traders with customers to improve product awareness and investment opportunities.
