EACLC LAUNCH: Samia demands standards

DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has called on manufacturers operating within the newly launched East Africa Commercial and Logistics Centre (EACLC) to prioritise and uphold high production standards for all goods.

Speaking at the inauguration of the facility in Ubungo, Dar es Salaam yesterday, President Samia said that any product bearing the “Made in Tanzania” trademark must meet stringent quality benchmarks, reflecting the nation’s reputation for excellence.

“Production standards are paramount because any product produced under the ‘Made in Tanzania’ brand must be synonymous with the high standards that the name Tanzania represents. I ask manufacturers to produce at acceptable standards,” President Samia said.

She further said that the facility is not meant to compete with established local markets like Kariakoo, but rather to complement and inspire them to adopt modern practices. President Samia said Kariakoo traders should visit the centre, learn from its technology-driven operations and improve transparency in business transactions.

“Kariakoo has built a name for itself over the years, but it still needs to learn from this centre. Instead of viewing it as a competitor, let it serve as a learning model,” said President Samia, adding that government systems will be integrated with the centre’s digital network to monitor business activities in real time.

The EACLC is set to become a vital platform for promoting local products to foreign markets, particularly China. It features modern warehouses, transport and logistics services and business offices, all within a single location.

These facilities are expected to reduce the cost and time of transporting goods, enhance efficiency and in Tanzanian products both locally and internationally.

The Head of State said the centre will ease cargo handling processes at the Dar es Salaam Port, reducing turnaround time from seven days to less than three, thus boosting the port’s competitiveness in the region.

“Through its digital systems, the centre will enhance warehouse management, cargo tracking and transport coordination contributing to Tanzania’s vision of building a knowledge and technologybased economy in line with its digital strategy,” she said.

According to President Samia, the EACLC will help improve Tanzania’s export earnings, increase employment opportunities for the youth and expand access to foreign markets. It will also contribute to government revenue and increase local council collections in Ubungo.

“I commend the investors for this project, which will foster stronger business ties between the private sectors of China and Tanzania. This centre will serve not only Tanzanian traders but also those from across African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) markets,” she said.

To sustain the momentum, President Samia encouraged both public and private stakeholders to expand the model beyond Dar es Salaam by establishing more centres along key product value chains across the country.

“This centre should not stand alone. Let’s build strategic branches closer to areas where the goods are produced,” she said. President Samia also acknowledged the Chinese government for its contribution, recalling the Memorandum of Understanding she signed during her visit to China, which has paved the way for such projects.

She said the EACLC marks a step forward in Tanzania’s industrial journey and called for collective efforts to make it a success.

The Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Chen Mingjian, described China and Tanzania’s 61-year friendship as a relationship built on deepening political trust.

She said the project is worth over 110 million US dollars (about 278.3bn/-) and will create more than 50,000 direct and indirect jobs. The goal is to turn it into the ‘Yiwu of Tanzania’ and the ‘Yiwu of East Africa’, driving trade, streamlining logistics and raising Tanzania’s global market profile.

“China has remained Tanzania’s largest trading partner for nine straight years. In just the first half of this year, trade surpassed 5 billion US dollars (about 13tril/-), with full-year figures expected to exceed 10 billion US dollars,” she said.

According to her, Tanzanian exports such as honey, soybeans and coffee are in high demand among Chinese consumers, with all tariff-line products enjoying zero duty when exported to China.

She further said China is also the leading source of foreign investment to Tanzania, having generated over 150,000 jobs.

EACLC Chairperson Dr Lisa Wang said the centre is committed to empowering Tanzanian entrepreneurs, with 93 per cent of businesses operating within the facility being Tanzanian-owned.

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“We are here to complement not compete with local markets, our aim is to share experiences, promote international standards and create new opportunities for employment and revenue generation,” she said.

So far, the investors have contributed over 22bn/- in taxes, with the potential to significantly increase this through expanded operations. The centre is projected to reduce the cost of doing business in the region by 30 per cent.