The Minister for Industries, Trade and Marketing, Dr Mary Nagu has called upon Tanzanians to value local agricultural and mineral products to boost the countrys economy.
Dr Nagu made the call over the weekend during the opening of the 7th exhibition for small and medium entrepreneurs held here.
She said that if people would change their mindset and start buying local products the economy would grow and more job opportunities would be created.
The minister said a good number of local business people have been travelling to Asia and elsewhere to buy clothes for the local market.
Many claim that our products are substandard and hence they import from China, Taiwani and elsewhere.
This is wrong because we are killing our industries and denying the government its revenue, she said.
Dr Nagu said Tanzanian products were better than most of the imported ones.
The truth is that our agricultural and mining products are of high quality and they meet international standards, she said.
We are now building our economy. But this can only be done if Tanzanians value and buy local products, the minister said.
Dr Nagu said the government through Small Industry Development Organization (SIDO) would continue to provide loans to small scale entrepreneurs to enable them strengthen their businesses.
Manyara Regional Commissioner, Henry Shekifu said SIDO had spent 380m/- to assist small scale entrepreneurs.
The exhibition was organized by SIDO.
THE GUARDIAN
The minister has to walk her talk; some of us are tired of these good stories which do not bring a meal of a day in our plates! Haitoshi kusema watanzania fanyeni hivi bila waziri kuwaongoza katika kufanya through appropriate strategies and realistic policies. Watanzania wajasiria mali wamewezeshwaje ku endeleza uzalishaji wa bidhaa za kitanzania; viwanda viko mikononi mwa watu gani na vinafanya nini katika kuendeleza uzalishaji wa bidhaa za kitanzania; Kiwanda kama cha UFI ni wakulima wangapi wa Tanzania walipata share kilipo binafsishwa kama kime binafsishwa any way hata kama bado je kiko wapi na kinafanya nini?; Viwanda vya Tanaries wafugaji wangapi wana share pale na kinafanya nini?; viwanda vya bia ni wakulima wangapi wa ngano walipewa share pale etc etc na kuna mkakati upi wakuwasaidia kupata shares ili walime ngano huku wakijua pakuuza as stakeholders au kuna contract gani kati ya wakulima na wazalishaji na ni watu gani wanazo hizo contracts, je hakuna sort of monopsony kwa sababu ya buyer kuwa mmoja and what are the intervention policies to avoid such things. Biashara inayofanyika ni ya bidhaa za wapi je incentives gani zipo katika ku promote bidhaa za ndani etc etc unless you show the way otherwise we will hold you responsible. Utaona tu nguo sijui za batiki and so on ndo zinakuwa promoted lakini viwapi viwanda vya bora shoes, nguo nzuri za cotton hata kama hatuna uwezo wa kutengeneza nguo basi nyuzi na ngozi tuziuze nje kwakuanzia na tushirikishe watanzania wengi si wajanja wachache katika uzalishaji. Hii itaweka uchumi mikononi mwa watanzania na wao wakiwa part of producers watapenda pia ku consume as this gives them incentives to do so as its for their own welfare na serikali itakuwa na walipa kodi wa uhakika.
