Africa-Press – Tanzania. MWANZA will next month host the 21st edition of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in East Africa popularly known as Juakali/Nguvu Kazi that will be part of the celebrations of the 60th Tanzania Independence anniversary.
Speaking to reporters recently, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office, (Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability), Ms Jenista Mhagama said the ten-day event slated between December 2 and 12, will attract over 1,500 artisans from the six East African Community (EAC) partner states.
She said Tanzania will be staging the event for the sixth time, whereas this year’s event will be held under the theme ‘Promoting Quality and Innovation to Enhance EAC MSMEs Competitiveness and Post Covid-19 Recovery’.
The minister said there will be a number of seminars, whereas the artisans will get a chance to attend the training and get equipped with entrepreneurs, loans and capital access, business management skills among others.
Ms Mhagama said during the exhibitions, Tanzania will be hosting 450 entrepreneurs, thus advising those interested to register to tap opportunities available in the forum.
Moreover, she said, entrepreneurs, youth and persons with disabilities effectively use the hosting of the Juakali/Nguvu Kazi exhibitions to widen their networks with their colleagues from Kenya, Uganda, Sudani Kusini, Burundi and Rwanda.
“Our people must ensure they use the exhibition to promote their business and market the products, innovation, communication and information technology, industries, services” she insisted.
The 1st EAC MSMEs trade fair was held in Arusha in November, 1999 and coincided with the signing of the EAC Treaty.
Thereafter, the EAC Heads of State directed that the exhibitions be held annually on a rotational basis among the partner states.
The exhibitions are aimed to enhance and revamp the socio-economic integration of the people of East Africa given their critical role.
To participate in the fair, exhibitors from the region have to register with their respective chapters of the Confederation of Micro and Small Enterprises Organisations (CMSEOs).
According to available statistics, MSMEs account for nearly 90 percent of the total number of all businesses in the region.
They contributed about 20 percent of the bloc’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimated to be at 193 billion US dollars.
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