Yas training opens global markets to Mwanza women

MWANZA: A total of 150 women entrepreneurs in Nyamagana District are being equipped with digital and business skills to help them reach international customers and expand their enterprises beyond Tanzania.

The initiative, organised by telecommunications company Yas Tanzania in partnership with Apps and Girls, aims to help women identify overseas customers, understand export procedures and use secure payment methods when dealing with international buyers.

Yas Tanzania External Affairs Manager Rukia Mtingwa said equipping women entrepreneurs with practical knowledge was essential to strengthening their businesses and opening up new economic opportunities.

“Our goal is to empower women entrepreneurs economically by providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to grow their businesses beyond their immediate markets. We want women to recognise that their products can reach customers in international markets when they are well prepared and make effective use of opportunities offered by technology,” she said.

Ms Mtingwa said Mwanza was the second region to benefit from the training after Dar es Salaam. Yas Tanzania plans to extend the initiative to other regions in phases to reach more women seeking to grow their businesses.

Apps and Girls Co-Founder Maria Nyangi said the programme was designed to help women run their businesses more confidently, understand customer needs and adopt practical strategies to improve their products’ marketability.

She said producing quality goods was only one part of building a successful business. Entrepreneurs also needed to present their products effectively, attract potential buyers and establish lasting business relationships to support sustainable growth.

The workshop also featured contributions from regulators and industry representatives, who highlighted business opportunities and the importance of regulatory compliance.

Patrick Muro, Marketing Officer for the Lake Zone at the Tanzania Meat Board, encouraged participants to explore viable opportunities in the meat industry to expand their economic activities.

Dotto Emmanuel, from the Cereals and Other Produce Regulatory Authority, emphasised the importance of business registration and compliance with applicable regulations. He said operating formally could strengthen businesses and prepare entrepreneurs to access wider markets.

Participants welcomed the training, saying it had broadened their understanding of what it takes to sell products internationally.

They noted that growing a business required more than having a marketable product. Entrepreneurs also needed to understand market demand, identify potential buyers, navigate export and shipping requirements, and ensure secure payments.

Through its partnership with Apps and Girls, Yas Tanzania aims to equip more women entrepreneurs with practical business and digital skills to identify growth opportunities, strengthen their enterprises and participate more effectively in the economy.