The statement was made by the Vice-President of United Republic of Tanzania Hon. Dr. Philip  I. Mpango at the PMAYA 2020.

He directed the manufacturers to find a solution to the current trend of importing items which could easily be produced locally saying the country was using the much needed foreign currency which could be used to import other essential items. Example, he said, in year 2020, T anzania imported:

a).  200 Billion worth gray fabric when we produce a lot of cotton.
b).  111Billion worth of soap related materials
c).  93Billion was used to import crude palm oil when we produce palm oil in Tanzania
d).  33Billion was used to import beer produced using malt while we do farm maize, wheat and Barley.
e).  We used29Billion to import salt when our entire coast region has abundant salt as well as Uvinza in Kigoma Region.
f).  26 Billion plus to import tyres of cars
g).  35 Billion to import Bicycles and their parts.
h).  10 Billion to import syringes
i).  9.8 Billion to import Biscuits
j).  32 B illion to import Nuts and washers
K).  19 Billion to import Sweets
l).  8 Biilion to import locks
m). 18 Billion to import women sanitary pads
n).  24 Billion to import iron and boxes packaging materials, and the list goes on and on...........

IMPLICATION:

• We are continuing to create employments to those countries we import the products from and reduce our much-needed foreign current reserve and eventually perpetuate  imbalance of trade.

• So, the question for all us-the industrial sector and the Government, specifically, the confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade we must answer.

    What should the Government do to rectify the situation? "I believe that if the developed countries managed go throughout these challenges, likewise Tanzania could identify the opportunities and challenges and work on them decisively" he said.

He said that the CTI chairman mentioned the challenges that contribute to unsatisfactory performance/contribution  of the industrial sector to the economy.

"I wish to assure you that for the part of the Government, we are continuing to take necessary measures to reduce and eventually abolish those challenges". 

For instance,  he added, that through the Blueprint for Regulatory Reforms to improve Tanzania Business Environment, the Government erased more than 100 Charges and levies and some regulatory institutions were merged to easy the burden of charges to the private sector.

He further said were challenges which are emanated from industries themselves, such as Weakness in marketing their products locally and internationally. The government was ready to use the embassies abroad to assist the industries to penetrate the international market for locally produced products.