The government has stepped up efforts to promote inclusive economic growth by sponsoring entrepreneurs with disabilities to participate in the 50th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (Sabasaba), giving them a rare opportunity to access wider markets, attract customers and showcase the quality of their products alongside other exhibitors.
The initiative, coordinated by the Prime Minister's Office through the Tanzania Federation of Disabled People's Organisations (SHIVYAWATA), reflects the government's broader strategy of ensuring that persons with disabilities are not left behind in the country's expanding business and investment landscape.
At the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Grounds, exhibitors with disabilities are displaying a diverse range of locally manufactured products and services, using the country's premier trade exhibition to build business networks and secure new commercial opportunities.
Speaking after touring the exhibition, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office responsible for Policy, Parliament, Coordination and Persons with Disabilities, Ummy Nderiananga, said the strong participation by entrepreneurs with disabilities demonstrated the impact of targeted government support in unlocking their economic potential.
She said the government had fully financed their participation, removing a major financial barrier that has often prevented many small entrepreneurs from accessing high-profile trade exhibitions.
"This exhibition has demonstrated that when persons with disabilities are given equal opportunities, they are able to compete, innovate and contribute meaningfully to the country's economy," Nderiananga said.
She noted that beyond increasing sales, the exhibition had strengthened the confidence of exhibitors by enabling them to present their businesses in a competitive environment while interacting with buyers, investors and other entrepreneurs.
Nderiananga said the government would continue expanding the programme in future trade fairs to ensure that more entrepreneurs with disabilities benefit from market exposure and business development opportunities.
She also commended the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade) and other institutions that supported the initiative, saying their collaboration had helped advance the government's commitment to inclusive economic participation.
The deputy minister further called on local government authorities to continue implementing the statutory allocation of two percent of their own-source revenue for persons with disabilities, saying access to affordable capital remains essential for expanding businesses and creating sustainable livelihoods.
"The time has come for persons with disabilities to continue demonstrating their capabilities in production and entrepreneurship. What we have witnessed here confirms that government empowerment programmes are producing tangible economic results," she said.
Representing the exhibitors, Pili Bilahi said government support had enabled entrepreneurs with disabilities to participate in the exhibition free of charge, allowing them to concentrate on marketing their products and engaging with potential customers.
She expressed gratitude to President Samia Suluhu Hassan for championing policies that promote economic inclusion, particularly through the two-percent loan facility provided by local government authorities to persons with disabilities.
Bilahi said participation in the exhibition had significantly increased the visibility of businesses owned by persons with disabilities while creating opportunities to establish long-term business partnerships beyond the fair.
Held under the theme "Sabasaba International Trade Fair: Tanzania's Pride," this year's exhibition continues to serve as a key platform for promoting trade, investment and innovation, while highlighting the importance of ensuring that every segment of society has an opportunity to contribute to the country's economic transformation.
