Govt devises strategies to market fiber boats

ZANZIBAR: THE government is devising marketing strategies to ensure the anti-smuggling unit’s (KMKM) manufactured fiber boats are sold, the House of Representatives was told here on Friday.

Minister of State, President’s Office, Regional Administration, Local Governments and Special Departments Masoud Ali Mohammed told the house that the ministry in collaboration with KMKM and the blue economy and fisheries ministry are working jointly to market the boats to the fishermen.

He said the strategies include inviting commercial banks like National Microfinance Bank (NMB) and National Bank of Commerce (NBC) to explore opportunities to extend credit facilities to potential buyers of the boats.

The minister was answering a question by Bumbwini Representative Mtumwa Peya Yussuf who wanted to know the government intervention in the sale of KMKM manufactured fiber boats, which she said are not selling well.

She commended the special unit for the innovation to establish the boat manufacturing factory but warned that the investment risks turning into a white elephant unless there effective marketing strategies.