Minister orders for products

DODOMA: THE government institutions responsible for issuing licences have been ordered to verify products produced in various factories to check if they conform to their licences.

The institutions include the Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA), the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and the Weight and Measure Agency (WMA).

“I want these institutions to visit all factories that produce galvanised products and other materials to check and satisfy themselves if the products produced by these factories meet the requirements of the standard,” the Minister for Trade and Industry Dr Ashatu Kijaji said recently when she visited two factories in Dodoma Region.

The factories visited by the Minister were Aluminium Africa (ALAF) and Horesean Enterprises which produces dragon galvanised roofing materials. Dr Kijaji said that she found Herocean Enterprises which produces dragon galvanised roofing materials to have other products that are not related to the actual objectives of the licence given by BRELA.

“ Unfortunately when I visited this factory (Herocean Enterprises) I found that it is involved in other businesses which is not indicated in its licence including selling refrigerators, PVC, tiles and gypsum board. “I have asked them to show the registration of these products but did not provide satisfactory answers. So I am instructing the institutions involved in this issue to get involved to find out the truth,” said Dr Kijaji.

On their part, the ALAF Customer Service Officer, Mr Herry Jailos and Herocean Enterprises Marketing Officer, Mr Boniface Lekwasa thanked the government for the visit and identified the challenges they face including lack of markets.

They said that the industries faced a challenge of marketing since many industries are dealing with galvanised products while the demand is low.