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Dar Trade Fair: counting returns
2007-07-08 09:54:04
By Imani Lwiga
The Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) winds up today. With 31 years of show experiences, the challenges still exist. A link is missing between foreign exhibitors and the local partners. Staff Writer Imani Lwiga writes.
Lilian Koko is happy that she got an opportunity to show her products at the 31st Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair. She has come all the way from Musoma, a township in the off shores of Lake Victoria where with seven others, she is engaged in food processing.
She is happy because visitors to her stand are very much impressed with her products, particularly wines made from Rozela flowers. By Saturday she had almost sold all wines she had brought to the show. Thanks to the Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO).
LOCAL EXHIBITORS GAIN from FAIR
``We are quite happy that SIDO has for the third time given us the opportunity to be here. It`s more encouraging because visitors to my stand are very much attracted with our products,`` says Koko.
Koko is a product of SIDO`s efforts to train women in food processing and give them some loans to start businesses. She was in London this year through the support of the London-based Tanzania Trade Centre to show her products.
She`s among many women and men from across the country given opportunity by SIDO to show up their products.
There are other local companies enjoying partnerships with foreign firms which are a result of previous trade fair, according to a survey by this paper.
Furniture Centre of Dar es Salaam was showing, among others, various products of Sharp electronics. So is clock tower shopping centre an agent for Panasonic products. So many other local firms had products they distribute. Mabibo Beer is the sole distributors of Heineken.
But a stone throw from Koko and other successful exhibitors is the Karume Hall, where several foreign exhibitors are showing up. Unlike Koko, many were not happy.
Here, Gao Hang, a Chinese exhibitor with Eiel Industrial Co. Limited is quite disappointed with the show. It has absolutely not met her expectations.
``Up to now I have not been able to see people who are interested in striking partnership deals here. We have been receiving visitors who are not potential for us.
They just admire our products and go,`` says Hang from Shenzhen Province of China displaying electronic gadgets such as DvD decks and Satellite dishes made by her industry.
FOREIGN EXHIBITORS SAY NO LOCAL PARTNERS
Hang`s concern is shared by other exhibitors, mainly foreigners who had expected to hook business partners to distribute their products.
``We have not come here to sell these products. I`m looking for agents, who are financially fit and ready to do business with us,`` says Ahmad Alheji, from Damascus, a Syrian Capital.
Not only is it the the first time for Ajyal Establishment, Alheji`s company, manufacturers of chewing gums and other related products to come to Tanzania but it is the first show they have attended in Africa, south of Sahara.
``We wanted to bring our high quality products to this part of the world, starting with this show.
We have been exporting to various countries in Europe and America. In Africa we only go to Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco,`` he adds.
The foreign exhibitors` concern could mean a lot for the development of this country where trade is very low. This is a rare opportunity for local traders not only to share experiences with fellow traders but also to lure partnerships in investments prospects.
At the show grounds, there were various technologies on display from different countries to suit all sectors.
The most useful for a country like Tanzania - which depends on agriculture as its economy`s mainstay were the state-of-the-art agricultural tools.
BET SAYS IT PLAYED ITS PART
The organizers of DITF, now with 31 years of experience say they have done their best to link local and foreign businesspeople.
A senior official with the Board of External Trade (BET) who asked for anonymity said the board has for years played its part.
``We normally have traders` day here. During this 31st DITF we arranged it yesterday and today (Wednesday and Thursday).
We send special invitations to members of various traders` entities,`` he noted.
``But experience has shown us that they normally don\'t turn up or in a very small number.
The response is very poor. This year we sent them the so called traders` information cards via emails. At least 3000 traders were invited but again response was very poor.``
BET attributes the trend to lack of seriousness to utilize opportunities like the DITF that comes once in a year.
``Certainly they can see it as an opportunity. I think the mindset for our local business people are not pro-business.
In my view, they see this event as BET project where it has to collect fees from exhibitors and visitors. That should not be the norm at all,`` he noted.
Speaking on the impact of local businessmen`s trips abroad, the official, who however is not the board\'s spokesman said some had attractive products and received orders from many countries.
The problem, he said, was on the supply side. Most were not able to meet the huge orders as stipulated in their agreements.
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