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Govt credits research utilisation for surge in exports

Minister for Industry and Trade, Dr Selemani Jafo

ARUSHA: THE government attributes the recent increase in exports to the effective use of research findings conducted by institutions such as Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA), alongside local and international development partners, in areas related to import and export of various products.

Speaking at REPOA’s 28th annual research workshop in Arusha, Minister for Industry and Trade, Dr Selemani Jafo, highlighted that Tanzania’s exports have grown from 5.7 billion US dollars (about 15.5tri/-) in 2016 to 7.6 billion US dollars (around 20.7tri/-) in 2023.

He also noted that exports to the SADC and EAC regions have risen by 50 per cent and 174 per cent respectively, totalling 2.8 billion US dollars (approximately 7.6tri/-).

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Dr Jafo, representing the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, credited the government’s initiatives, combined with support from development partners and the private sector, with sustaining a GDP growth rate of 6-7 per cent over the past 15 years.

This growth led to Tanzania’s reclassification by the World Bank from a lowincome to a lower-middleincome country, except for 2020 and 2023, when growth fell to 4.5 per cent and 5.1 per cent due to the impacts of Covid-19.

“The achievements highlighted today largely result from findings derived from various research projects conducted by the government, REPOA and both local and international development partners.

I urge other African nations and regional economic communities to utilise research insights to assess and advance policies and development strategies,” said Dr Jafo.

He expressed optimism that participants in the workshop would generate recommendations to drive productive policies aimed at trade expansion, sustainable economic growth and improved livelihoods.

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Dr Jafo also reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to implementing reforms and policies to build economic resilience, with a focus on engaging the private sector and development partners in ongoing development initiatives.

He insisted on fostering a supportive environment that enables all stakeholders to contribute to economic progress. Norwegian Ambassador to Tanzania and the EAC, Ms Tone Tinnes, underscored the importance of the workshop in analysing barriers to expanded trade within Tanzania, the EAC and across Africa.

Zanzibar’s Minister for Trade and Industrial Development, Mr Omary Said Shaaban, also highlighted the importance of research findings for achieving sustainable development, expressing full government support for REPOA’s initiatives.

The Executive Director of REPOA, Dr Donald Mmari, stressed the importance of research in policymaking to tackle challenges in trade promotion and efficient production across Africa.

“As we prepare for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), it is essential to meet and ad- dress the challenges that hinder trade promotion, particularly as intra-African trade accounts for only 16 per cent of global trade,” he stated.