Weekly shows billed to fast track trade

ABELA MSIKULA

TANZANIA Trade Development Authority (TANTRADE) is looking forward to conducting trade exhibitions on a weekly basis, particularly on Saturdays and Sundays. The Mwalimu Nyerere Trade Show Grounds (Sabasaba) have been picked as the venue for the initiative.

According to TanTrade, the move aims at promoting sustainable markets for mostly locally produced goods.

The Authority’s Executive Director, Mr Edwin Rutageruka, said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that his office had realised that the annual exhibitions staged in July and December did not give ample time to traders and investors to excel in businesses.

He said these needed to be in business all the time. Mr Rutageruka added that consumers also needed services from traders throughout and that his office had decided to introduce the weekly trade show routine to facilitate business growth in the country.

He said continuous exhibitions would trigger competition amongst traders, influencing them to set affordable prices as a result.

“Having observed the needs and requirements, we have decided to come up with what is called Sabasaba Vunja Bei Bonanza. It is for all petty traders, small and medium enterprises as well as large companies.

We prioritise those who issue discounts because people are interested in purchasing goods at low prices compared to other commercial centres like Kariakoo,” he said.

Weekly trade exhibitions, according to him, will also promote experience sharing between locals and foreigners, in addition to encouraging participants to invest mostly in industries, as part of the Tanzania’s industrial economy status drive.

The free-entry Vunja Bei Bonanza is set to kick off on July 28, this year, and at least 108 local companies had already confirmed participation.

He added that Saba saba grounds were capacitated to accommodate over 5,000 exhibitors, urging entrepreneurs to grab the opportunity.

It was further noted that apart from trading facilities; there would be various entertainment sessions for both adults and children in the grounds from 8:00am to 9:00pm.

Daily charges to participants will differ according to the space needed. Petty traders, commonly known as machinga, will pay between 2, 000/- and 10,000/- and Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) will pay 20,000/, said Head of Vunja Bei Project, Mr Samsonite Odera.

“Big enterprises will have to pay on monthly basis, the minimum amount being 500,000/- and the maximum is one million shillings,” Mr Odera said.