TanTrade, Ukraine in pact to boost Tanzanian exports

What you need to know:

TanTrade in collaboration with Ukraine International Trade Council have mobilized Tanzanian food processing traders to grab the opportunity to export products to Ukraine.

Dar es Salaam. The huge demand for coffee, fruits and ingredients in Ukraine has opened another opportunity for local farmers and owners of food processing industries to export their products.

This was revealed yesterday by Ms Rita Polishchuk, a representative from Ukraine, in a post-event interview with The Citizen. She explained that the potential market for food and beverages in Ukraine made her country's International Trade Council to send representatives to various potential producers including Tanzania.

"For instance, my country's demand for coffee for 2018/2019 is worth $106.6 million, yet Tanzania normally exports coffee worth $76 000 to Ukraine per year. We are focused on making it easy for both small and large scale Tanzanian traders to be able to export more products to Ukraine," she said.

Ms Polishchuk said that her country, in collaboration with the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), were set to open a 'Ukraine trade-house,' which would provide a platform for consultations and training for Tanzanian traders.

"After the launch of this trade house, we will be able to unite both small and large scale producers so that they can contribute and export more than when everyone strives on their own," he said.

The meeting, which was held in Dar es Salaam and brought together various local owners of food processing industries, was aimed at mobilising unity among producers in a bid to export more to Ukraine.

"We have invited you here to introduce to you to the potential market for your products. We want you to join hands and collect enough products for export to Ukraine," said the acting managing director (Tan Trade), Edwin Rutageruka, as he introduced the audience to the agenda.

He said that Tanzania was one of the countries in Africa that had a potential to increase the market-scope of its products in a bid to help farmers and exporters to engage in international trade.