Tanzania’s flagship trade exhibition, the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), known locally as Sabasaba, closed Sunday with more than 7.06 billion Tanzanian shillings ($2.7 million) in recorded sales and TSh44.4 billion ($17 million) in confirmed product orders, as the government pushes for stronger export growth and private sector engagement.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, speaking at the fair’s closing ceremony on Sunday, issued several policy directives aimed at accelerating trade performance and lifting the competitiveness of Tanzanian products in regional and global markets.
“We must strengthen collaboration with the private sector, listen to their challenges, and respond with practical reforms,” Majaliwa said. “Trade ministries and regulatory bodies must work together to ensure full participation in future trade events.”
He tasked the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade) with expanding market access and aligning exhibitors with high-demand opportunities in blocs such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and SADC.
He called for rigorous market analysis to guide exporters and improve trade targeting.
Majaliwa also directed trade agencies in both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles, which he said continue to restrict business growth.
He urged manufacturers to ramp up production of high-quality goods, especially in sectors like fisheries, seaweed, and processed foods, where demand is outpacing supply.
“All locally produced goods should carry a 'Made in Tanzania' label to build brand visibility globally,” he said, encouraging businesses to invest in digital marketing and media outreach to unlock new markets.
The fair, which ran from June 28 to July 13, attracted 394 international companies from 22 countries, marking a 38% increase in foreign participation compared to last year.
The Prime Minister used the opportunity to pitch Tanzania as an investment destination, pointing to the country’s youthful workforce and improving infrastructure.
“I am confident these countries will return, not just to exhibit, but to invest,” Majaliwa said.
TanTrade Director General Latifa Khamis said this year’s exhibition more than doubled 2024’s sales figures, jumping from TSh3.62 billion to TZS 7.06 billion, while business orders exceeded TZS 44.4 billion.
“Our data, collected in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics, show that 60% of exhibitors met their commercial targets,” she said.
Trade Minister Dr. Selemani Jafo said improvements to the fair’s infrastructure helped attract over 2.6 million visitors, crediting global benchmarking at expos in Dubai and Osaka for inspiring modern upgrades. Digital ticketing also streamlined crowd management, he said.
On the sidelines of the fair, East Africa Commercial and Logistics Centre (EACLC) representative Catherine Wang announced that President Samia Suluhu Hassan will inaugurate the East Africa China Gateway Logistics (EACGL) centre on August 2.
The new hub is expected to simplify and accelerate trade flows between Tanzania and China.
The 2025 edition of Sabasaba underlined Tanzania’s ambition to position itself as a competitive trade hub in East Africa, backed by increasing foreign interest, policy-level reforms, and a growing export-oriented business culture.