Tanzania plans to market spices at Italy exhibition

Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade) director general Jacqueline Maleko speaks during the presentation of Expo Milano 2015 in Dar es Salaam at the weekend. Left is Italian ambassador to Tanzania Luigi Scotto, who hosted the event. PHOTO | EMMANUEL HERMAN 

By Felix Lazaro,The Citizen Reporter

In Summary

• Tanzania will have about 500 exhibitors at the Expo Milano 2015, which will draw about 20 million participants from 147 countries between May 1 and October 31

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania plans to market its variety of spices to the rest of the world in the forthcoming six-month exhibition in Italy as the country seeks to revamp the export potential of the spice sector.

The director general of Tanzania Trade Development Authority (Tantrade), Ms Jacqueline Maleko, said Tanzania will have a kitchen for spiced foods and display the variety of spices including cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, black paper, chilies, ginger, turmeric, cumin and coriander seeds -- available in both Mainland and Zanzibar.  Dubbed Expo Milano 2015, the exhibition will attract about 20 million participants from 147 countries between May 1 and October 31. Tanzania will send 500 participants on its hand, she said.

“We will use the platform to market our spice sector to revamp its export potential,” explained Ms Maleko.

The exhibition will carry the theme of ‘Feeding the Planet Energy for Life’ to be divided in seven sub-themes. Tanzania will participate under the Spice cluster with other producers of spice like Afghanistan, Vanuatu and Sri Lanka.

In the spice cluster, Tanzania has chosen its theme: “Experience Tanzania Culture through Food and Spice” which reflects the richness and diversity of the country in terms of people, identity, life styles, traditions and history.

“We wish to see students, ordinary students, researchers and academicians and business companies take part in this important exhibition,” said Ms Maleko.

Ms Maleko was speaking at the weekend when Italian ambassador to Tanzania Mr Luigi Scotto hosted a group of officials and business communities from Tanzania and Comoro. Mr Scotto said the general theme of the exhibition aims at promoting sustainable solutions to ensure sufficient, safe and health food for all.

“We should bear in mind that the critical conditions set by the rapid population growth, climate change and the depletion of agricultural surpluses require a global effort to prevent hunger while providing quality food to everyone,” he said.

Mr Scotto hoped that the exhibition will trigger discussions on many food issues from multiple lenses including availability, nutrition, traditions and biotechnologies.