Commonwealth to assist Tanzania boost its exports

Commonwealth Secretariat will assist Tanzania to develop a plan of action to increase the quality and quantity of its exports. The first launch of the series of processes to develop the national export strategy will be held on 27 March 2008 in the capital, Dar es Salaam. The second phase of the launch will be in Zanzibar on 2 April 2008.

Isaac Njoroge, a trade adviser with the Commonwealth Secretariat who is managing the project, said that the overall objective of this project will be the improvement of the competitiveness of Tanzania’s goods and services in the regional and international markets.

“This will be achieved through the development of a national export strategy that will be undertaken through a national team comprising all key stakeholders: the public sector, the private sector, the academia and the civil society,” he explained.

To support the process, the Secretariat will provide a consultant to work with the Tanzanian national team to put together the strategy.

“The national export strategy is one among other instruments that Tanzania is using towards realising its development efforts as contained in the country’s Vision 2025,” Mr Njoroge added.

Vision 2025 provides the foundation on which all political, social and economic development activities are evolved. It specifically provides for a strong and competitive economy that will effectively cope with the challenges of development, and easily and confidently adapt to the changing market and technological conditions in the regional and global economy. Vision 2025 is anchored on the pillars of high quality of livelihood, peace, stability and unity.

It also includes good governance; a well educated and learning society; and a competitive economy capable of producing sustainable growth and shared benefits. The achievement of this vision is dependent on the effective implementation of priority strategies to achieve a thriving and profitable private sector; a strong and diversified agriculture sector; a dynamic and sustainable tourism industry; a coherent, stable and entrepreneurial community; and effective education and health services.

Mr Njoroge said that it is anticipated that the development of a national export strategy will lead to a strengthened public-private sector partnership which will help in the creation of an enabling business environment.

“We also hope that the strategy will lead to positive policy changes being adopted to take advantage of the comparative advantages that would have been identified, as well as recommendations made in other studies, and this will lead to improvement in export performance in the medium to long term.”

Tanzania joins many other developing Commonwealth countries that have benefited from the Secretariat’s technical and financial support in formulating national export strategies during the past three years.

Key Links:

• Country Profile: United Republic of Tanzania
• Special Advisory Services Division