Dar trade fair to raise $1.5m despite economic crisis

Over $1.5 million will be generated by the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair, despite the ongoing economic crisis.

The acting director general of the Board of External Trade, Samuel Mvingira, said in Dar es Salaam that the revenue is attributed to the improvement in basic infrastructure at the fair grounds — at a cost of cost $153,000.

He said 860 local companies and 40 foreign ones have confirmed to participate at the exhibition that has attracted 27 countries.

“Final touches were expected to be completed by last Friday. Some firms were even bringing in their commodities for the show,” he said.

The annual fair features products such as construction materials, automobiles, electrical goods and appliances, farm implements, chemicals and cosmetics, trade-in-service, machinery and engineering products, computer software, gift items and handicraft.

Others are agricultural products, textile, garments and yarn, manufactured goods, information and communication technology systems and timber and furniture.

The show helps local traders expand their business contacts and establish partnerships and joint ventures with participating foreign enterprises.

Ramadhan Khalfan, director general of the Board of External Trade, said recently in Dar es Salaam that this year’s theme is “Building a Global Network for Business Cooperation”.

Last year, 27 countries took part, while the attendance was 1,930 people — 1,602 locals and 328 foreigners.

The fair’s biggest challenge is the quality of products exhibited. This is because the majority of participants are small and medium enterprises (SMEs), despite falling short of international standards.

For SMEs to compete favourably in regional and international markets, they must offer high quality goods and services.