Lack of knowledge hinders cross-border trade - TWCC

By Polycarp Machira

Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce (TWCC) director, Fatma Riami

Lack of knowledge on international trade remains one of the key challenges facing local entrepreneurs, especially the youths, the Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce (TWCC), director Fatma Riami has observed.

 

Speaking during a two days meeting for female traders from eleven regions bordering other countries, she noted that most youths fail to trade across the border due to limited knowledge on legal procedures.

“In most cases they use unregulated routes and upon arrest, they end up paying twice the amount spent on buying or abandon the goods all together” she said.

 

The TWCC boss noted that some youths who have been enlightened on the rightful procedures have attested that if one follows the requirements, cross border trade is quite easy.

 

She urged over sixty female young entrepreneurs from the eleven regions that converged here to freely share challenges they face at the border points as they sell or buy goods in other countries.

 

The director noted that authorities involved at the border points like the Customs and Immigration department have clearly stipulated the law and simplified the process to enable local traders access international markets easily.

 

Speaking while officiating the meeting, Clara Ibihya, TWCC board member said youths especially women need the knowledge on trade to better their lives.

 

She noted that women in the country have for a long time been sidelined in development activities and have suffered under men dominated culture, thus youths need to wake up and change the trend.

 

“Every one target the youths even in politics but little or no focus at all has been directed to women youths and that is why it is high time you realise your potentiality and rise above the norms” she noted.

 

Clara who doubles as the Coast Region’s Tanzania Chambers of Commerce and Industry (TCCIA) chairperson said the society need to change its focus on females and treat them like their male counterparts.

 

But Happiness Mchomvu, Manager of Women Entrepreneurship Development Coordination at the Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO) urged the young women to combine informal training they acquire through life experience with formal knowledge acquired after formal trainings in order to succeed.

 

She added that a recent research showed that youths face a lot of challenges in starting business, urging the female entrepreneurs to join business organisations to get more knowledge and share experiences.

 

The female youths came from Kigoma, Mtwara, Tanga, Mwanza, Mara, Kilimanjaro, Tunduma and Kagera.

 

Some of the youths who talked to this paper expressed frustrations with customs official and police at the points of entry and exit.

Amina Mohanze from Tanga who buy goods from Mombasa in Kenya to sell in Tanga explained that some customs officials are not keen in their job and can easily issue a receipt bearing different product from what you pay for.

 

“If you complain they simply send you off and when got by the police, they take you back to TRA where you pay double the taxes on miss your goods” she said.

 

Safi Chacha from Sirare in Mara however acknowledged that she had problems in the past when she used unregulated routes, trying to escape paying taxes.

 

She noted “after following the normal route as we were trained, I have been able to save a lot of money that used to go to the police as bribes when caught.”