ABOUT 850 traders are expected to participate in the 2023 Mwanza East Africa Trade Fair (MEATF) exhibitions scheduled to take place from August 25 to September 3 this year.
So far, 420 participants have confirmed their participation, out of which 210 are small-scale entrepreneurs, the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) Chairperson for Mwanza Region, Mr Gabriel Mugini said on Thursday.
“We have extended our invitation to both small- and large-scale traders in and outside Africa, including Northern America, in various sectors, be it industry, livestock, agriculture, fishing, mining, education, construction and health among others,” he said.
He made the call for Tanzanians to grab such an opportunity that serves especially in networking, as well as business skill and knowledge exchange between locals and foreigners.
There will also be a special business desk, through which participants will be learning about quality goods manufacturing, for local and global markets.
According to him, the government institutions will also be there, offering especially public education on where and how best members of the community should have access to various services.
The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) Lake Zone Manager, Ms Happy Brown, urged small entrepreneurs to visit her office for a free quality test service of their products, to help them fully participate in MEATF exhibitions.
To have such a service, she explained, beneficiaries should have an introduction letter from the Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO), to smoothen the procedure.
“Having received the letter, our experts do visit one’s business area to collect the samples for a quality test. Once the products qualify, then we allow the use of our organisation’s quality mark of standard for a-three-year time.
“We give such a long period to pave the room for stabilisation of entrepreneurs’ capital, hence, be able to pay for the mark’s license,” she said.
