It`s an international trade fair, not a shopping bazaar
 
2005-07-08 07:58:38
By Editor

A study has been undertaken to restructure the Board of External Trade to make it more effective in promoting both exports and expansion of domestic markets.

BET is an export support and facilitation agency which is vital for creating and export – led economic growth.

This year it has organised the annual 29th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair, and it is attended by foreign companies and countries from Europe, Africa and Asia.

It is important that a Trade Fair gives prominence to exhibition and facilitating conducting of trade negotiations rather than having pavilions which are branches of shops in Samora concentrating on spot sales.

The idea of an International Trade Fair is defeated when it is turned into a shopping bazaar.

It is encouraging that there is less noise from the loudspeakers this year, and it has slowly been transformed from a funfair to a trade exhibition.

It is also gratifying that this year BET has collaborated with other institutions to organise export clinics which will explore ways of supporting exporters including giving them access to credit for export financing and training on export procedures and documentation.

It is expected that this year, as it has been advocated in the past time, will be set for conducting negotiations between importers and exporters which have come to promote their products in Tanzanian market.

Tanzanian exporters should also be given a forum to negotiate export orders with potential importers of Tanzania products.

BET is still facing operational limitations to carry out its mandated functions and attain its objectives.

There is need for bigger budget allocation to enable BET not only to organise the DITF fair but also special product exhibitions and invite foreign and local participants.

It should have funds available to enable it to assist potential exporters to explore markets in Trade Fairs and products and service exhibitions held in other countries like USA, EU and Asia in order to develop markets for non-traditional products in new markets collaboration and co-ordination of training in export business with International Trade Centre of Geneva should be enhanced to make businessmen more aggressive and knowledgable about export markets.

BET should also co-operate with other stakeholders in export business like the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce Industries and agriculture in funding delegations of businesspersons who will go to visit potential export markets to promote Tanzania export products.

To achieve this there is need for capacity building in BET in terms of training and staffing to enable it to effectively be a dynamic export facilitation agency.

• SOURCE: Guardian