Expanding DITF faces space crisis

The Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair.PHOTO|FILE 

By Sturmius Mtweve and Felix Lazaro ,The Citizen Reporters

In Summary

Zanzibar’s Second Vice President Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi who officially opened the exhibition yesterday said it was encouraging to see more small and large scale traders take part.

Dar es Salaam. The Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair is staring a congestion crisis in the face as demand for exhibition space has outgrown the current location for the international event.

Currently, Tanzania depends on one exhibition venue, the Mwalimu Nyerere grounds at Sabasaba –whose infrastructure is still very poor and cannot meet all the required international business exhibition standards.

 

Industry and Trade minister Dr Abdallah Kigoda yesterday acknowledged the crisis and said the government is now planning to spread out the event to other regions.

The initiative, according to the minister will provide an avenue for Tanzania to carry out several yearly exhibitions that will open more opportunities for both countrymen and foreigners.

The 38th DITF exhibitions have attracted 500 international companies and 1,700 local firms, some of whom have said the congestion problem could affect their participation in future.

“The government in collaboration with the private sector has already started setting buildings that meet the required international trade fair standards. But we are eying other places where these exhibitions will be taking place throughout the year,” said Dr Kigoda. For the first time, companies from the US have taken part and are looking for local business partners.

Zanzibar’s Second Vice President Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi who officially opened the exhibition yesterday said it was encouraging to see more small and large scale traders take part. He was particularly impressed at the growth prospects in the leather industry, with nine processing industries established this year alone.

He said for the country to attain middle income status by 2025, more emphasis should be put on improving the industrial sector.

“We have introduced the Big Results Now (BRN) programme as one of the strategies to attain the various development targets. All these will highly depend on the way we improve our infrastructure system and the way we position ourselves in the market,” said Mr Iddi

Earlier, Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda who toured the venue challenged the ministry of Industry and Trade to take note of the growing demand of exhibitors from foreign countries.

Mr Pinda said from his past experience, there was urgent need for the event to change its face. He pointed to the poor roads leading to the venue as a small example. He was accompanied by Dr Kigoda and Tanzania Trade Development Authority director general, Jacqueline Maleko.

“It is not necessary that this work of renovating DITF venue must be done through support from outside, we can involve for example Tanzania Investment Centre, social security funds to make that happen,” said Mr Pinda.