Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade Patrobas Katambi has issued a firm six-point directive to the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), underscoring the government’s determination to use trade and industrialisation as engines of economic growth, revenue expansion and job creation.
The directive focuses on scaling up micro, small, medium and large enterprises, strengthening research and market intelligence, implementing the National Development Vision 2050, safeguarding cooperation between Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, and expanding training for entrepreneurs.
Speaking to TanTrade staff during an official visit on December 20, 2025, Mr Katambi said the government’s satisfaction would not be measured by the number of businesses alone, but by their ability to grow, formalise and contribute meaningfully to the economy.
“The government wants to see entrepreneurs move from survival trading to becoming serious businesspeople, industrial investors and employers,” he said. “That is how we grow the tax base, and without a strong tax base, there is no sustainable development.”
His remarks point to a policy shift that places enterprise growth, rather than mere business registration, at the centre of trade development.
Although micro and small enterprises dominate Tanzania’s economy, many remain informal, limiting productivity and government revenue.
Mr Katambi directed TanTrade to strengthen research and draw lessons from countries at different stages of development, arguing that trade policy must be informed by evidence, not assumptions.
“You must research others and ask tough questions: where did they get it right, and where did they fail?” he said. “If we do not learn from others, we risk repeating mistakes that have already been made elsewhere.”
He insisted that research should not remain on shelves but guide daily operations.
“I want research to be the roadmap of TanTrade. Every decision must be backed by evidence,” he said.
On market intelligence, the deputy minister issued one of his strongest directives, calling for aggressive collection and professional analysis of market data from within and outside Tanzania.
“Go to every region, go beyond our borders and look for market information,” he said. “Know what is produced, where demand exists and why some products succeed while others fail.”
He urged the authority to embrace digital platforms and artificial intelligence, saying, “We must collect data, analyse it scientifically and turn it into solutions that guide government and businesses.”
Mr Katambi also stressed the need for TanTrade to align its work with the National Development Vision 2050 and the CCM election manifesto.
“These documents clearly spell out where this country wants to go in industry, trade and people’s welfare,” he said. “If institutions pull in different directions, we will not get results.”
On the Union, he said trade promotion must strengthen, not weaken, cooperation between Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.
“The Union is not negotiable. Trade development must reflect unity and shared prosperity,” he said.
Entrepreneurial training featured prominently, with Mr Katambi warning that failure to build capacity would stall growth.
“We have many entrepreneurs, but most are too small to make real impact. It is your responsibility to train them, formalise them and help them grow,” he said.
Responding, TanTrade Director General Latifa Mohamed Hamis said the authority had taken the directives seriously.
“We have received these instructions as a call to act,” she said. “TanTrade will strengthen market intelligence, expand training and ensure that our services reach traders across Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.”
She said the planned opening of new offices in Kigoma and Songwe near the Tunduma border would support cross-border trade.
“Cross-border trade is no longer optional. It is a strategic necessity for Tanzania’s market diversification,” she said.
As Tanzania seeks to deepen regional integration and expand exports, it goes without saying that TanTrade’s execution of the six-point agenda will be a key test of whether policy ambition can translate into economic impact.