PRESIDENT John Magufuli has turned down plans by the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade) to use its own funds to build a hotel and modern buildings within the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Trade Fair Grounds.
Dr Magufuli told the Board of Directors
of TanTrade that they should think of setting up an industry which could
serve as an example to other investors, instead of injecting funds into
construction of new buildings.
“As an entity under the Ministry of
Industry and Trade, I think it will be good for you to show by example
as we are pushing the industrialisation agenda rather than only
encouraging others to do,” he said.
He directed the board and management of
TanTrade to leave the responsibility of constructing new buildings to
exhibitors themselves and sign agreements with them on how to recover
their money.
“They can construct and leave them use
the buildings for free for a particular period. In fact, by doing this
you will be retaining them to partici pate in the annual trade fair,” he
said.
His remarks came after the Chairman of
the board, Eng Christopher Chiza, stated that they were planning to
modernise the Grounds by constructing modern pavilions and hotel to
accommodate foreign exhibitors who have been forced to seek shelter far
from the trade fair grounds.
“Currently, exhibitors have to travel
long distances to places where they sleep… but with the planned hotel
they will be sleeping here and depart to the airport which is not far
from here,” Eng Chiza explained.
But Dr Magufuli opposed, saying having
the hotel may not guarantee getting the exhibitors sleeping in there,
but they may still seek hotels of their choice in town. “The chairman
and your board need to revisit your plan.
I have appointed you just recently and
if these are you plans you make me think of my appointment,” he said
amid laughter from the gathering during the official opening of the 41st
Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF).
In a quick rejoinder, EngChiza agreed
with the President’s directive and promised to work on it while asking
him not to rethink over appointing him.
Meanwhile, President Magufuli told the
TanTrade to consider extending time for this year’s trade fair which was
planned to end on 8th of July so that citizens can have an opportunity
to continue doing business at the grounds.
He said he was impressed by the response
by ‘wananchi’ and the companies participating at this year’s trade
fair. At least 515 foreign companies from 30 countries and 2,500 local
companies are participating in the event.
Speaking over benefits of the trade
fair, Dr Magufuli said it gives the companies opportunity to meet with
their customers and get first-hand feed back over their products for
improvement.
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