Dr Kijaji to preside over AfCFTA’s council of ministers for one year
What you need to know:
- The Dar es Salaam council of ministers meeting presided over by Dr Kijaji adopted the AfCFTA Protocol for Women and Youth in Business
Dar es Salaam. Minister of Industry and Trade, Dr Ashatu Kijaji, has been elected chairperson of the council of ministers responsible for trade in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for a one-year term, commencing on December 7.
Dr Kijaji chaired the 12th meeting of the council of ministers of AfCFTA on December 7, 2023, which took place concurrently with the second AfCFTA Conference on Women in Trade (CWT) in Dar es Salaam. The CWT commenced on December 6 and concluded on December 8.
The meeting adopted the AfCFTA Protocol for Women and Youth in Business. This protocol was finalised under the guidance of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who serves as the Chief Motivator and Leader of Women and Youth in Business in Africa.
Meanwhile, the deputy minister of Industry and Trade, Exaud Kigahe, said the government is exploring ways to facilitate access to capital for women traders under the AfCFTA and identifying appropriate technologies to enhance their production capacity.
This initiative will be complemented by reinforcing the enabling environment and essential infrastructure vital for the success of their businesses.
"We in Tanzania have continued to strengthen access to capital through our financial institutions, including banks,” Mr Kigahe noted.
He added that the Ministry of Industry and Trade, through the Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO), offers entrepreneurship training, provides capital loans, and grants women entrepreneurs access to technology.
Capital for women, youth, and the disabled is also allocated through 10 percent of the revenue generated by local governments.
