Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade, Patrobas Katambi, has challenged the East Africa Commercial and Logistics Centre (EACLC) to attract foreign traders who possess advanced technologies and specialised skills unavailable in Tanzania, saying this is key to building a competitive industrial base.
Mr Katambi, who opened the inaugural EACLC Trade Exhibition in Ubungo, Dar es Salaam, on November 29, 2025, said Tanzania’s youth stand to benefit the most if the country deliberately taps into global expertise.
“We want foreign traders who are bringing technologies and skills that we do not have in the country,” he said.
He added that “Our young people must learn, adapt and scale up their enterprises.”
He said the exhibition should serve as a platform for knowledge transfer and market expansion, noting that Tanzania cannot achieve industrial transformation without deliberate exposure to global standards.
“Trade fairs like this must push our businesses to innovate, improve their quality and explore new markets,” he added.
Mr Katambi said the government has made significant reforms to improve the business climate.
They include amendments to 66 policies, laws and regulations and the removal or reduction of more than 380 fees, charges and fines that were considered obstacles to entrepreneurs.
“We have cleaned up the business environment so that local and foreign investors can operate with confidence. What we need now is productivity, competition and strategic partnerships,” he noted.
He praised EACLC Limited for convening more than 200 exhibitors and attracting an estimated 1,000 visitors, saying the private sector’s initiative aligns with the Sixth-Phase Government’s push to strengthen economic diplomacy and make Tanzania a strategic commercial hub in East, Central and Southern Africa.
Mr Katambi urged exhibitors to use the fair to build networks, sign meaningful business agreements and upgrade their products to meet international standards.
“Industrial development does not happen in isolation. It requires close cooperation between government and the private sector,” he stressed.
EACLC Limited Managing Director, Cathy Wang, said the exhibition aims to strengthen trade infrastructure—including warehouses, offices, exhibition halls and logistics facilities—while connecting traders directly with customers to increase product visibility and investment opportunities.
“Our goal is to link businesses with real markets and support them with the infrastructure they need to scale,” she said.
