DITF cements role as business gateway
DAR ES SALAAM: THE 50th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) generated on-the-spot sales worth 3.89bn/- and advance export orders valued at 1.2bn/-, underlining its growing role as a commercial platform connecting Tanzanian businesses with regional and international markets.
The Golden Jubilee edition attracted a record 3,800 exhibitors, including 400 from 23 countries, according to an assessment conducted jointly with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The increase from last year’s 3,394 exhibitors and 394 international companies highlights DITF’s evolution from a traditional exhibition into a strategic marketplace connecting producers, investors and buyers.
The assessment found that the fair continued to create opportunities for businesses to reach new customers, strengthen partnerships and explore export markets, reflecting the fair’s expanding appeal as a regional trade, investment and business networking platform.
Speaking during the official closing ceremony, Tantrade Director General, Dr Latifa Khamis said the 50th edition, held from June 28 to July 12, marked a historic milestone while demonstrating the fair’s growing contribution to business expansion and economic development.
“The exhibitions have significantly unlocked international markets for exhibitors,” Dr Khamis said.
The assessment also showed that DITF’s impact extended beyond immediate sales. More than 61 per cent of exhibitors explored export opportunities, securing advance orders worth 1.2bn/-.
The figures illustrate the fair’s evolution into a commercial platform where businesses build supply chains, attract buyers and secure long-term markets beyond Tanzania.
The exhibition also reinforced the government’s Made in Tanzania agenda by promoting locally manufactured products.
According to Tantrade, locally produced goods accounted for 58.6 per cent of products sold during the exhibition, while imported goods made up 33.9 per cent. Products combining local and imported components accounted for the remaining 7.5 per cent.
The results point to growing acceptance of locally manufactured products while reflecting the continued role of imports in meeting domestic demand.
ALSO READ: Dar fair registers 23 countries, historic high
Industry and Trade Minister, Judith Kapinga said DITF should be viewed as more than an annual exhibition, describing it as an important instrument for strengthening domestic production and expanding Tanzania’s participation in regional and global value chains.
“For our traders, the exhibition has been more than a showcase. It has been a masterclass in business, a marketplace, a hub for innovation and a platform for building longterm partnerships,” she said.
Ms Kapinga said Tanzania must shift from being primarily a consumer market to becoming a producer, processor, distributor and exporter.
“We cannot afford to remain a market for other people’s products. We must become producers, processors, distributors, transporters and key contributors to regional and international value chains,” she said.
Beyond commercial activities, the fair continued to expand its role as a one-stop service centre, bringing together government institutions, financial service providers and healthcare organisations.
