The TITF will be opened by the Minister for Industries and Trade, Mr Charles Mwaijage.“The Tanga –Uganda Oil pipeline project expected to cost about $4bn (£2.8bn) has generated a lot of interest in Tanga’s business community, and of course, there would be a lot of inquires on how society could cash in on the proposed projects,” the Executive Secretary of the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TICCA), Charles Hoza said.
The TCCIA and the Tanzania Trade Agency (TANTRADE) are the joint organizers of the Trade Fair that was launched with fanfare with hope to make it a big East African event four years ago.
The discovered oil reserves in Uganda are estimated at some 6.5bn barrels, and the country expects to start production in 2018. France’s Total, China’s CNOOC and the Anglo-Irish company Tullow Oil hold most of the license, according to information made available here. “The pipeline to Uganda is another development opportunity that Tanga residents have been given by the government.
People should come and be introduced to the various opportunities that would come with the pipeline,” said Mr Hoza. Speaking at a recent meeting in Tanga, the new TCCIA Tanga President, Peter Chisawillo challenged business men and women to attend the fair to learn how they can grab opportunities to be brought by the construction of an oil pipeline from Uganda to Tanga port.
“Come to the Fair where TPDC would be in high profile and learn how to explore areas which will attract business ventures. I am particularly sure that oil business will open opportunities for people’s economic ventures,’ he said.
Several exhibitors have already confirmed participation in the 4th edition of the International Trade Fair, which would this year be held parallel with the Tourism Fair, according to Hoza.
Exhibitors who have already confirmed participation include the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), which would give Tanga residents a chance to learn about the proposed 4 billion dollar Tanga-Uganda oil pipeline and the opportunities that it would open in the coastal city. Hoza revealed that not less than 100 exhibitors are expected to participate in this year’s Trade fair.
Other exhibitors are entrepreneurs from Kenya, the Tanzania Port Authority (TPA) which also expects to cash in substantially in the Tanga – Uganda Pipeline project, the Rhino Cement Company and the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), which would promote local tourism. Others are the Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL), Vodacom, Tanga-based companies such as Mamujee, TPPL, Tanzania Prisons, Social Security Funds, the National Microfinance Bank (NMB), the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), the Tanga-based PPTL, Burhani Sawmills, the Pembe Limited and the Tanzania Coffee Board.
Hoza said that the Chamber was currently working overnight to put final touches to the Fair grounds at Mwahako and appealed to Tanga residents to visit the fair to see what Tanga and Tanzania can show.
The ongoing preparations clear doubts over the fair that is already regarded as a major event in the coastal city’s calendar after a dismal performance of the TITF last year. The Trade Fair was launched with a lot of fanfare four years ago and organizers would like to turn it into the second most important international Exhibition of products after the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF).
Mr Chisawillo said TCCIA Tanga would like to develop the fair as one of the popular exhibitions in East Africa and it cannot be held back by what he termed as minor setbacks, which he said was common during the early stages of establishment of such ventures. He urged Tanga industrialists and businessmen to change their mindset as regards the Trade Fair and take it as an opportunity to showcase their products and services to capture more markets outside Tanga and Tanzania.
The Fair this year would be held with the theme of ‘Stimulating Trade – turn our potential into valuable trade in order to get domestic, regional and global economies thrive again in our midst’.
“We must be aggressive and take this as an opportunity to go forward. We must change our attitudes towards business. We must use this opportunity to sell Tanga,” he said, also calling on other service providers to be business minded by avoiding smearing the name of Tanga through bad language and attitudes. There has been a greater enthusiasm following the success of the first and second Trade Fairs held in 2013, 2014 and this year.
“More companies, both local and foreign are expressing interest in exhibiting their goods at the Trade Fair,” he said, adding that the TCCIA would like to make the fair a big occasion, second to the Dar International Trade Fair (DITF).
One of the major drawbacks of the Fair has been low profile participation of local government councils. Only one council, the Tanga City Council has confirmed participation in the ten-days event. There are a total of 11 local government councils in the region.
Fair organizers have expressed hopes that this year many Local Government authorities would participate to use the Fair to showcase their economic opportunities. Participation of local authorities has not been satisfactory and regional authorities are urging them to use this rare opportunity to market their products and opportunities.
Source: Daily News

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of TradeMark Africa.