Tanzania: `Entrepreneurs need permanent trading centres`

President Jakaya Kikwete on Wednesday directed marketing authorities to see to it that special permanent trading centres are created to enable entrepreneurs them to display their goods for sale.

He made the propose after a half-day tour of the ongoing 35th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair taking place at Mwalimu Nyerere grounds off Kilwa Road in the city.

He said such centres would give an opportunity for the entrepreneurs to easily sell their products.

“But this would also give room for other people to see what is being sold at the centres. This practice is prevalent in other countries such as Senegal where entrepreneurs have their own permanent place to display and sell goods where people go and see products such as batik,” he said when making remarks to reporters about his tour.

Regarding the JK billions, the President said already 42bn/- had been given out to about 72,000 beneficiaries.

“We are aware that more money is needed. We are still evaluating before dishing out more funds,” he said, adding, “but the funds are now being released by the National Economic Empowerment Council.”

Making remarks on the prevailing power problems, the President said drought was the root cause.

“What we are doing at the moment is that we have taken emergency measures to produce 300MW from sources other than hydro,” he said.

He further said that the government has earmarked power ptoduction to reach 3000 MW by 2015 by incorporating the private sector.

“This can well be done partly by the government and partly by the private sector. We want to end this power menace,” Kikwete said.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN