Local brewing firm endorses Dar industrialisation drive

DAILY NEWS Reporter

TANZANIA Breweries Limited (TBL) has said government’s ambition to build an industrial economy is achievable if the government would remain committed in creating and sustaining attractive investment environment.

TBL Group and East Africa Technical Director, Mr Gavin Van Wijk said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that to realise the plan, the country should learn from other countries with successful industrial development and note the good points on board.

“Key to achieving the ambitious plan is the government commitment to continue creating an enabling environment for establishing robust industrial sector in the country,” he said.

The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) quarterly economic review shows that manufacturing sector has posted strong growth in the year ended June 2016 with revenues generated rising to 1.5 billion US dollars.

He noted that, it was interesting to see Tanzanians were eager and ready to learn various strategies which have brought efficiency and productivity in industrialised countries.

He said TBL Group has shown the way with its chain of industries emerging as the best producers among SABMiller industrial portfolio located in various parts in Africa. “For six consecutive years, TBL Group plants in Tanzania have been scooping various awards and become threat to other beer brewing plants in Africa,” he said.

He added, the award for best beer brewer plant in this year has been won by TBL Mbeya plant and the second position has been taken by Mwanza plant. Arusha plant and Dar es Salaam also ranks high,” he said.

He said, the success story has been attributed to number of factors which include the company’s production system that take into consideration the issue of productivity which meet international standards.

“TBL Group is currently implementing SABMiller’s Manufacturing Way Strategy which insists on efficiency,” he said. Statistics from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment shows that Tanzania had 50,656 industries by the end of 2012, employing over 133,231 people.

Out of 1,769 industries relative to 3.5 percent are large and medium scales while 48,887, equivalent to 96.5 percent are small and micro enterprises.