MPs tout reliable market for local products

THE government has been urged to collaborate with Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TANTRADE) to make sure it secures reliable markets for various products produced by local factories in the country.

This was said in Parliament by the Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Industries, Trade, Agriculture and Livestock, Ms Mzuzuri (Special Seats, CCM), who said that the government should set a strategy to use the country’s ambassadors abroad to advertise and find markets for the goods produced in the country.

The call follows the concern that most of the local products face the challenge of reliable markets.

“For example, the Kibaha Pesticide factory which produces insecticides for mosquito has failed to operate on its own, instead it relies on the government’s support,” she said.

She was of the view that the government should find a reliable market for strategic products abroad to raise the economy of farmers and increase foreign currency.

Ms Mzuzuri highlighted the challenge of businessmen being required to pay taxes before starting a business instead of paying the tax six months after starting the business.

She said the system causes inconvenience to taxpayers and discourage others from starting new ones.

The MP said the committee advises the government to ensure that relevant entities charge taxes in accordance with the law,  noting that there is also a  need of reducing bureaucracy in the process of establishing businesses, so as to attract more businesses and investors, adding that taxpayer education should be provided regularly to avoid unnecessary inconveniences.

“The Ministry should set up strategies to meet with businessmen according to their classes to listen to their challenges and provide them with tangible solutions,” she said.

Ms Mariam Mzuzuri further said that there are factories that were privatised but until now are not performing the intended work, violate the purpose of its privatisation, thus causing great loss to the nation.

The MP said the committee advises the government to repossess all undeveloped privatised industries and re-advertise them to other owners so that they can produce and increase productivity, employment and income.

The Committee further highlighted the existence of outdated policies, laws and regulations, saying they slow down the pace of the industrial economy in the country.

Such policies, the Committee said, include the National Mobilisation Policy for  Investment of 1996, Industrial Development Policy for Small and Small Business of 2003 among others.

“The Committee advises the government to speed up the process of reviewing of these policies, strategies and sectoral laws so that they can comply with the current needs in stimulating the speed of the industrial economy in the country. In addition, the preparation of a new Policy in various issues related to this sector should be emphasised to achieve the intended goals,” she said.