The Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade) has unveiled plans to expand its presence in Katoro, Geita Region, as part of broader efforts to strengthen markets and promote investment in Tanzanian goods and services locally, regionally, and globally.
Katoro is increasingly emerging as a strategic commercial hub, owing to its location along key trade routes and its growing role in linking traders, producers, and consumers from surrounding towns, rural areas, and neighboring countries.
TanTrade Director General, Dr. Latifa Khamis, said the authority has initiated targeted market research and business opportunity assessments in Katoro to support market expansion, stimulate domestic production, and enhance the competitiveness of Tanzanian products.
“Katoro holds significant trade potential due to its proximity to neighboring countries and the steady growth of production and commercial activities in the area,” Dr. Khamis said during a meeting with the Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade at TanTrade headquarters in Dar es Salaam.
Preliminary findings indicate that more than 90 percent of goods sold in Katoro are imported, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen local manufacturing, improve product quality, and promote Tanzanian-made goods in the market.
Dr. Khamis noted that TanTrade is working closely with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to implement the Sixth Phase Government’s agenda of expanding trade, improving market access, and positioning Tanzanian products competitively at national, regional, and international levels.
She said TanTrade has strategically expanded its footprint, with headquarters in Dar es Salaam and regional offices in Dodoma, Mwanza, and Arusha, alongside plans to establish offices in border regions such as Kigoma and Songwe (Tunduma) to enhance cross-border trade facilitation and market intelligence.
“Our presence in Katoro will improve access to reliable market information, strengthen the capacity of local traders, and help businesses tap into both domestic and international markets,” she said.
According to Dr. Khamis, TanTrade’s mandate includes conducting market research and intelligence, providing price and trade information, building business capacity, organizing trade promotion events, and advising the government on trade policies.
She reported that TanTrade has linked more than 1,065 Tanzanian companies to international markets, while 14,045 youth and women have benefited from entrepreneurship and business development training.
Through international trade exhibitions, TanTrade has facilitated business deals worth Sh17.35 trillion at Expo 2020 Dubai, Sh38 billion through Osaka Expo in Japan, and more than Sh176 billion from contracts secured during last year’s 49th international trade fair.
Dr. Khamis also highlighted the rollout of the national “Made in Tanzania” brand, designed to promote, protect, and enhance the global recognition and competitiveness of Tanzanian products and services.
“TanTrade will continue to expand market outreach, strengthen trade research, and bring its services closer to traders and investors, especially in strategic commercial centers such as Katoro,” she said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade Dennis Londo said decisions made today in the trade and industrial sectors will shape Tanzania’s long-term economic future.
He warned that global competition is intensifying, calling for deliberate strategies to safeguard national interests and ensure Tanzanians remain in control of their economic destiny.
“The global market is highly competitive. Tanzania must be strategic and strong to protect its interests and secure sustainable growth,” Londo said.
He described trade as a key driver of employment, social stability, and economic expansion, urging policymakers to make Tanzania an attractive destination for business and investment—not only in major cities such as Dar es Salaam but also in fast-growing towns like Katoro.
On agriculture, Londo emphasized the need to integrate farmers into value chains rather than leaving them confined to raw commodity production.
“Connecting farmers to value chains requires solid research, market intelligence, and professional guidance. TanTrade has a critical role to play in this transformation,” he said.
He further noted that strong national branding is essential to ensuring Tanzanian products command fair prices and recognition in global markets.
“Without a strong trade identity, our products may sell, but our producers will not reap full economic benefits,” Londo said.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening TanTrade to improve product competitiveness, empower businesses, and extend trade opportunities to emerging commercial centers across the country.