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Tanzania's Ambassador to China, Dr Suleiman H. Suleiman, has called for sweeping reforms to strengthen the country's export competitiveness, saying Tanzania must improve product quality, production capacity and business knowledge to fully benefit from expanding economic ties with China.
Speaking at the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) headquarters on July 14, the ambassador presented the outcomes of his recent nationwide outreach programme aimed at promoting opportunities created by the Tanzania-China partnership.
He said the campaign had raised public awareness of scholarship opportunities in China, investment prospects in agriculture, energy and tourism, and potential commercial partnerships between Tanzanian and Chinese businesses.
However, he noted that local enterprises continue to face significant challenges in accessing global markets, including insufficient production to meet international demand, failure to comply with global quality standards and limited understanding of international trade requirements.
"The opportunities are available, but Tanzanian businesses must build the capacity needed to compete effectively in international markets," Dr Suleiman said.
To address these bottlenecks, he proposed establishing a National Business Clinic to provide practical support and advisory services for exporters and investors navigating international trade.
He also recommended the creation of a One Stop Export Facilitation Centre to consolidate export-related services, reduce bureaucracy and improve the efficiency of cross-border trade.
The ambassador further called for stronger coordination among trade and investment support institutions, alongside expanded training programmes to equip entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge required to access global value chains.
He said such measures would help Tanzanian businesses take fuller advantage of the growing economic partnership between Tanzania and China, one of the country's largest trading and investment partners.
Dr Suleiman also commended TISEZA for coordinating both the outreach programme and the media briefing, describing the authority as playing an important role in attracting investment, facilitating trade and supporting Tanzania's broader economic transformation.
