The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Ambassador Rajab Salum, has called on institutions responsible for trade and industrial development to strengthen support for local innovators and entrepreneurs by improving access to financial capital and creating a more enabling business environment.
Speaking on February 19 in Dar es Salaam during an official visit to the Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organization (TIRDO), Ambassador Salum said public institutions have a responsibility to act as facilitators of innovation and industrial growth, rather than obstacles to progress.
He emphasized that innovators and entrepreneurs, particularly those at early stages, require guidance, technical support, and simplified procedures to successfully establish industries and businesses that contribute to national economic development.
“Institutions overseeing industry and trade should be proud to serve as centers of innovation and engines of industrial transformation. Their role must be to open doors for innovators and help them turn ideas into productive enterprises,” he said.
Meanwhile, TIRDO Director General Mkumbukwa Madundo reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to increasing public awareness of the services it provides.
He said TIRDO will implement strategic initiatives to ensure more Tanzanians especially young people are informed about opportunities available through the institution.
The goal, he explained, is to promote innovation, encourage self-employment, and empower citizens to actively participate in industrial development.
Mr. Madundo added that by effectively utilizing TIRDO’s research and development services, innovators can gain recognition, create sustainable livelihoods, and contribute meaningfully to the country’s industrialization agenda.