Mwijage pounces on critics of small-scale industries

Tanga: The Minister for Industry, Trade and Empowerment, Mr Charles Mwijage, has praised the role played by small-scale industries, saying those belittling them have what he call a ‘betting mind’ that thinks of winning Sh 40 million every time they bet.

Speaking after opening the 5th Tanga International Trade Fair (TITF) on Sunday, Mwijage said he had been criticized by several people when he said having four tailoring machines was a small industry.

“There is a section of Tanzanians that hates the term. Of course, according to an assessment this is a small group. I consider such people as having a betting mind because people who bet think of winning Sh 40 million every time they bet,” he said.

Mwijage said small-scale industries were the backbone and a school for the establishment of big industries. He cited countries such as India and China that relied heavily on small-scale industries to produce various products.

“You are supposed to love small-scale industries as they have great benefits. They can be established in accordance with an environment:” he said.

The minister directed District Executive Directors (DEDs) to change their approach in the provision of the five percent of the revenue to women and youth and instead it should be used to buy machines from the Small-scale Industries Development Organization (SIDO) for the establishment of youth or women groups to produce industrial goods.

“It is useless to give a loan to a person who has immense problems that need money to solve urgently. If you give somebody a loan at a time when he owes his landlord, he will pay the rent and his poverty will remain,” he said.

He called on local government chiefs to establish buildings for the installation of such small-scale machines to be used by youth or women’s groups.

Mwijage called on Tanga Region’s youths and women to establish backyard industries to produce spices instead of selling them raw to foreign countries for processing and buying them back.

He urged Tanga residents to start thinking of how to seize opportunities when big projects were started including the Tanga-Hoima Oil Pipeline, whose agreement was signed recenty and the envisaged Chinese Cement Plant that would produce 7 million tons of cement per year and open up employment opportunities for 8,000 people.

Speaking at the occasion, the Tanga Regional Commissioner, Mr Martin Shigela, said the Tanga International Trade Fair (TITF) was growing, urging the Tanga industrial and business community to participate actively in the Trade Fair.