The Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) has urged employers and industrial operators to deepen collaboration with vocational training institutions to help bridge Tanzania’s skills gap and improve employment prospects for young people.
VETA Director General CPA Anthony Kasore made the call on Friday, September 4, 2026, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between VETA and Van Mo in Dodoma.
The partnership is designed to align vocational training with the changing needs of the labour market, while creating pathways for graduates to move from training into employment.
Under the agreement, Van Mo plans to provide employment opportunities for about 500 VETA graduates with skills relevant to its operations, particularly in transport and logistics.
Mr Kasore said closer engagement between training institutions and employers was essential to ensuring that graduates leave college with skills that are directly applicable in the workplace.
He said VETA would continue engaging employers and industrial owners to identify emerging skills requirements and adjust training programmes accordingly.
“The partnership is important because whenever Van Mo needs professionals with different skills, VETA will be able to support them in accessing qualified personnel. Ultimately, the wider benefit is to Tanzanians through increased employment opportunities,” Mr Kasore said.
The agreement will also support the development of trainers’ capacity and expand opportunities for students to gain practical experience through workplace-based training.
The areas of cooperation include heavy vehicle driving and transport management, cargo transportation and storage, supply chain management, vehicle inspection and repair, and automotive electrical and electronic systems.
The partnership will also cover warehouse and stock management, fuel station operations, construction, property and infrastructure management, tourism and hospitality, agriculture and post-harvest management.
Van Mo General Manager Fathi Ahmed Ally said the company was looking to recruit about 500 young people who have acquired technical skills from VETA institutions.
He said the company’s decision to partner with VETA was driven by the need to access workers with practical skills that match its operations.
“What attracted us to VETA is that graduates from these institutions have the skills we need, particularly in transport operations. We believe this is the right place to find the young people with the skills required by our company,” Mr Ally said.
The agreement comes at a time when Tanzania is seeking to strengthen technical and vocational education as industries expand and demand for skilled workers increases.
For VETA, partnerships of this nature provide an avenue to make vocational training more responsive to industry needs.
For employers, they offer a more direct route to accessing locally trained workers while giving young people a clearer transition from vocational education to the workplace.
The collaboration therefore reflects a growing emphasis on linking skills development with actual employment opportunities, rather than treating training and job creation as separate priorities.