EAC stresses quality products to broaden market

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INVESTORS and traders in the East African Community (EAC) have been challenged to focus on improving the quality of their products so that they can compete in the international market.

The remark was made in Dar es Salaam this week by EAC Secretariat Director of Trade, Mr Rashid Kiboa, during the first EAC Quality Awards 2022 ceremony held in Dar es Salaam.

The EAC Quality Awards aims at promoting quality excellence for regional business competitiveness. It was organized by EU-EAC Market Upgrade Programme (MARKUP).

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MARKUP is a regional development initiative that provides support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the East African Community (EAC).

“Investors and traders in our regional bloc must strive to ensure that the quality of our products  meet the international standards …when the quality of our products are improved  then we will reduce imports and increase exports,” said Mr Kiboa.

He further  detailed that, through African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which provides a room for free movement of goods and services , EAC traders  have an opportunity  to  trade with various countries  thus quality of  products is crucial  in order to compete  in the international market.

He further stressed the need for every investor in the region to observe international standards to promote the growth of the regional trade.

On her part, Resource Person for International Trade Centre Dr Mark Bagabe said the introduction of the quality awards in the region aimed at enhancing access to international market, recognizing organisations and individuals who excel in quality improvement.

He added that the awards would raise awareness on benefits of participation in quality related activities as well as enhancing visibility of the participating companies.

For his part, EAC Awards Coordinator Mr Safari Fungo implored Tanzanians traders to participate in awards while stressing that for a company or individual to participate in EAC awards must first be a winner at national level.

During the awarding ceremony two Tanzanians emerged winners including Said Salim Bakhresa and Company (Tanzania) who was the first winner  of the Service of the Year in Larger Enterprises (LE) category and Faima Product who was the second winner under the category of best small medium enterprises of the year.

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