Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government has expressed commitment to strengthening Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) capacity, in a bid to improve competitiveness in domestic and international markets for selected value chains.
To achieve this ambitious goal, a 2.6 million US dollars (about 6bn/-) three-year programme entitled ‘Strengthening of MSMEs Capacity to Improve Competitiveness in Domestic, Regional and International Markets or Selected Value Chains’, was launched in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
The programme was launched jointly by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Mainland) and Zanzibar Ministry of Industry, Trade and Industrial Development after teaming up with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF).
Minister for Industry and Trade, Prof Kitila Mkumbo, who was the chief guest, said the project is co-funded by EIF to the tune of 2.1 million US dollars (about 4.9bn/-) and UNDP contributed 500,000 US dollars (about 1.2bn/-).
He said the project aims to contribute towards the reduction of unemployment among women and youth, through creation of employment opportunities in the five selected value chains namely, honey, anchovies, palm oil, seaweed and horticulture.
It is anticipated that interventions will generate incomes to women and youth thus increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“This project has come at the right time as we are implementing the third Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP III), where it will help to grow and formalise our products,” said Mkumbo.
Implementation of the project will be carried out in both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.
Areas of focus will be in six regions of Kigoma (palm oil), Mara and Simiyu (horticulture), Singida (honey), North Pemba (seaweed) and North Pemba (anchovies). UNDP Resident Representative Christine Musisi reiterated the organs’ commitment to continue working with the government in its efforts to alleviate poverty.
