The Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) has partnered with the ELLA Foundation to expand market opportunities for skilled Deaf artisans, in an initiative aimed at turning inclusion into tangible economic benefits.
The partnership, implemented under TISEZA’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, will support artisans connected to the ELLA Workshop by improving access to markets and creating opportunities to increase production and income.
Speaking at TISEZA headquarters yesterday, TISEZA Director General Gilead Teri said economic inclusion should ensure that different groups have a fair opportunity to participate in and benefit from Tanzania’s economic growth.
“We want to ensure that different groups in society have equal opportunities to participate in economic activities and benefit from them,” Mr Teri said.
He said TISEZA would provide a direct market for products made by Deaf artisans by purchasing and using their products, including handmade bags, to package gifts presented to investors and other stakeholders.
The move gives the artisans access to an institutional customer while also exposing their products to investors and other visitors engaging with TISEZA.
ELLA Foundation Founder and Executive Director Esther Jaswant welcomed the partnership, saying the support would help the artisans increase production while improving the visibility and marketability of their products.
She said stronger market linkages were critical to helping Deaf artisans transform their skills into sustainable livelihoods.
The partnership comes at a time when inclusion is increasingly being viewed not only as a social responsibility but also as an economic issue, particularly in efforts to ensure people with disabilities can contribute to and benefit from economic opportunities.
For the artisans, the arrangement could provide a more predictable market for their products, helping them expand production, strengthen their businesses and improve household incomes.
For TISEZA, the initiative also provides an opportunity to demonstrate how institutions can support inclusive economic participation through practical procurement and market-linkage measures.
The Authority said it would continue working with stakeholders to promote equal economic opportunities and create an environment where Tanzanians can use their skills and talents to contribute to national development.
