Dar Es Salaam International Trade Fair
An ideal platform for companies looking to showcase their products in the merging markets in East Africa
The Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) has established itself as one of the prime trade events in East Africa. Held every year, the DITF is an ideal platform for companies to showcase their products on a pan-African platform. The DITF has grown is staure over the years and has been attracting more than a 1,000 companies from all over the world to participate in the fair evey year. In addition to companies from Tanzania and the rest of Africa, one can find a large contingent of overseas companies from as far away as United States, Europe, India, Pakistan and the Middle East.
While in Tanzania for the DITF many participants also use the opportunity to visit
Zanzibar, which has emerged as an important business 
centre in Tanzania. In recent years, Zanzibar has emerged as an
important destination of exports and re-exports. The Maruhubi port in Zanzibar is a
free port and imports into this port are exempt from custom duties and import taxes.
Merchants and traders are permitted to store their imports at the port before
re-shipping them elsewhere for sale or use. When re-shipping imports stored at the
free port, the traders are required to pay custom duties only in the country of
final destination of the goods. This has helped Zanzibar to emerge as the
distribution hub of the East African region.
As a result, goods from all parts of the world are being shipped to Zanzibar for
further re-export and distribution in the East African countries of Uganda, Burundi,
Rwanda and Congo.
In view of the increased cargo traffic through the Zanzibar port, the government is planning to further upgrade the facilities. A major development programme is cureently underway to increase the port's handling capacity and to modernise the existing infrastructure. The port has been dubbed the "Dubai of East Africa".
It is designed to distribute goods to the mainland, and to the landlocked countries
in the hinterland. The 32,000 square metre port has a container stocking yard,
all-weather warehousing sheds, and a motor vehicle yard with a capacity 
to stock over 50 automobiles. As a result of
all these facilities, a large number of imports into Tanzania are being routed
through Zanzibar. Consequently, cargo movement in Zanzibar has registered a marked
increase. The main port of Zanzibar - according to recent statistics - handles
between 160,000 and 180,000 tonnes of general cargo a year, including break-bulk;
and about 25,000 tonnes of liquid cargo mostly petroleum products and edible oils.
The port moves about 8,000 to 10,000 containers annually.
Imports into Tanzania have been registering a steady growth during the last five
years. Economic liberlisation policies adopted by the government of Tanzania in
recent years, coupled with the economic boom in recent years has played an
instrumental role in promoting trade within Tanzania. Tanzaniaís exports have
also been increasing in recent years. Fresh fruits, vegetables, handicraft, cattle,
agricultural products and tea are some of the main products being exported from
Tanzania to various countries around the world. As a result, Tanzania has been
enjoying a trading boom that is being continually strengthened by economi
liberalisation policies adopted by the Tanzanian government.
Automobiles, tyres, batteries, ball bearings, consumer electronics, chemicals, second-hand cars, consumer goods, spare parts, machinery, textiles, and computers are some of the items that are being exported into Tanzania on a regular basis.According to rough estimates, as many as 600-1,000 second-hand cars are being exported to Tanzania through Sharjah every month. These right-hand drive cars are being specially imported from Japan and shipped to Tanzania by traders in Sharjah's famous second-hand car mart.
"There is a huge demand for
quality second-hand cars in Tanzania. Second-hand car dealers in Sharjah and Dubai have
been the major sources in meeting this increasing demand," says Brown Kuaga.
"The trading of second-hand cars has received a further boost by the decision of
the Tanzania government to do away with foreign exchange regulations, thereby making it
easier for Tanzanian businessmen to pay for their overseas purchases," he said.Dar-es-Salaam, the main seaport of Tanzania, has served as a distribution hub for the huge East African markets by providing access to landlocked neighbouring countries. The port of Dar-es-Salaam is linked to the worldís major ports with regular sailings to ports in Europe, North and South America, Asia, Australia, Middle East and the rest of Africa. Dar-es-Salaam is a major industrial and transportation centre in Tanzania. Apart from having a major port, it is the countryís leading rail terminus. Moreover, it is economically important as most of Tanzaniaís agricultural and mineral exports pass through its port. The city of Dar-es-Salaam has a population of 2.2 million people. Although the official language of Tanzania is Swahili and English, many other African languages are also widely spoken.
Tanzania has now fully liberalised its economy by removing all obstacles that previously hampered the free flow of trade and foreign private investment. Among them were exchange controls, import and export licensing, as well as restrictions on remittances of profits and dividends, all of which no longer exist. These reforms have been painstakingly undertaken by the Tanzanian government in order to create the necessary environment to attract foreign investment.
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