| CTI: We’ll link producers to EA consumers | Send to a friend |
| Monday, 30 August 2010 23:16 |
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The Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) is working out plans of connecting local manufacturers with regional markets. This is aimed at enabling them to access markets in the wider East African Community (EAC). “Some of our members were opposed to the formation of the common market but that was inevitable,” CTI business development services director Cecilia Chambaka told the Citizen in Dar es Salaam yesterday. “Our duty is to educate them on how to orient to it.” To begin with, she said, the manufacturers’ umbrella body and the East African Speakers Bureau would organise an Eastern and Southern Africa Trade and Industrial Expo next month. The five-day event will take place in Dar es Salaam from September 20 and will bring together businesspeople, industrialists and representatives from business associations in Eastern and Southern Africa. “We have earmarked business leaders who have successfully ventured into the regional markets to present their success stories and act as role models,” she said.EAC secretary general Juma Mwapachu will officiate at the event. Last month, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi launched the EAC common market. In 2008, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) whose members include Tanzania became a free trade area (FTA), with more than 260 million people. SADC, EAC and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) are also planning to form an FTA. They have set up a task force led by Mr Mwapachu to spearhead the coordination If the three blocs that have a population of 527 million form the FTA, they will have a combined gross domestic product of about $625 billion. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
