Charles Mkoka
Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TANTRADE) has introduced new regulations aimed at strengthening oversight of business promotion events and improving credibility in trade exhibitions across mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Officials said the new framework will regulate consultants and organisers of business events.
The sector has grown rapidly in recent years, yet faced complaints from traders on organised exhibitions and promotions.
Deo Shayo, Acting Manager for Trade Promotion at TanTrade, said the move is intended to establish inclusive procedures that support business growth while opening more opportunities for young entrepreneurs and women.
“Our main objective is to create inclusive procedures that enable and grow business in our country, especially for youth and women,” Deo said. “These regulations are meant to ensure that business promotion events bring real benefits while reducing fraudulent practices.”
TanTrade says that the reforms come as the number of trade events (locals, private, and international exhibitions) has increased, prompting the need for clearer standards to ensure exhibitions are professionally organised and deliver tangible value to participating businesses.
In some cases, organisers have been accused of advertising high-profile guests or government leaders who do not actually attend.
At the same time, traders have complained of paying for exhibition stands only to find events with few visitors and little commercial return.
Under the new system, TanTrade will coordinate with government institutions, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, to ensure that business events involving international participants follow proper protocol and organisational standards.
The authority said the regulations were developed after consultations with business stakeholders across several regions of Tanzania and in Zanzibar, with many welcoming the reforms.
Michael Bilasi Mwamba, a representative of Woiso Original Products, said the rules would help resolve long-standing confusion surrounding trade exhibitions.
“These regulations are strategic and will help remove the misunderstandings that often occur during trade exhibitions,” he said. “They will bring together local and international businesses and strengthen the business environment.”
TanTrade officials say the new framework is intended to guide organisers and improve standards in the sector rather than punish businesses, with enforcement measures expected to be used only in cases where national laws are violated.
As the Tanzania Trade Development Authority marks its golden jubilee, the authority reflects on five decades of progress in advancing Tanzania’s trade sector.
Since its establishment, TanTrade has played a pivotal role in promoting both domestic and international commerce, providing a platform that connects local producers with regional and global markets.
