In a significant move aimed at bolstering Tanzania's business sector, the National Economic Empowerment Council (NEEC) is set to launch the highly anticipated Business Development Services (BDS) Guidelines.
The guidelines are designed to provide Tanzanian businesses, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), with the structured support needed to thrive, these guidelines are poised to drive economic growth and enhance competitiveness across the nation.
NEEC's Executive Secretary Ms. Beng’i Issa said over the weekend that BDS Guidelines focus on several core areas to strengthen businesses, including boosting sales growth, enhancing profitability, streamlining operational efficiency, fostering positive behavioral changes among employees, building management capabilities, and improving overall business competitiveness.
This holistic approach reflects NEEC’s commitment to equipping SMEs with the tools needed to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace and to contribute to Tanzania’s economic transformation.
Ms. Issa expressed NEEC’s commitment to ensuring the timely implementation of these guidelines, which have been meticulously prepared.
“We have completed the preparation of the guidelines and we are setting a launching date,” she stated during a press conference in Dar es Salaam.
“We initially planned to launch during the economic empowerment forum slated to be conducted in Dodoma city on December 3-4, 2024, but it has not been decided yet.” She assured stakeholders that NEEC would announce the official launch date soon.
The upcoming eighth annual economic empowerment forum, scheduled for December 3-4, 2024, in Dodoma, is expected to draw approximately 700 stakeholders from various sectors involved in Tanzania’s economic empowerment initiatives.
The forum will bring together representatives from government ministries, regional authorities, councils, entrepreneurs, financial institutions, educational and research institutions, and private organizations under the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), among others.
This year’s theme, "Economic Empowerment is the Foundation of Tanzania's Development," emphasizes the importance of creating pathways for Tanzanian citizens to achieve economic independence and take advantage of emerging opportunities.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa is expected to attend the forum as the guest of honor. In addition to reviewing the implementation of NEEC’s empowerment policies, the event will evaluate the outcomes from last year’s seventh forum, offering insights into both successes and challenges.
The forum will also recognize exemplary efforts, with awards to be presented to top-performing regions, entrepreneurs, and organizations that have excelled in promoting empowerment under NEEC’s guidance.
Through initiatives like the BDS Guidelines and the annual economic empowerment forum, NEEC aims to foster a supportive environment for sustainable business growth in Tanzania. This multi-faceted approach underscores NEEC’s vision of an economically empowered nation driven by vibrant and resilient businesses.
