Entrepreneurship awareness rises

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By Rosemary Mirondo,  The Citizen Correspondent
Dar es Salaam. The level of awareness among women entrepreneurs is growing, thanks to the East African Community Common Market.

Women participants in the 35th Tanzania International Trade Fair are exhibiting quality products that offer credible competition in international markets.

According to them, the introduction of the EA Common Market has opened up avenues for their businesses to strive. They are now forced to take the challenge for fear of being left behind by their colleagues in the region.

It was not amazing therefore to note that women were dominant in pavilions. They included those under the sponsorship of the Equal Opportunities for all Trust Fund (EOTF), Pride, Sido, NMB, Karume hall and Tanzania Agro Dealer Strengthening Programme (TASP).

A principlal trade officer in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ms Anna Bulondo, emphasized that if women were empowered they would be capable of performing well in the world of trade and business.

She said the ministry had identified women with potentials of competing locally and internationally.

According to her, it was the first time the ministry participated in the exhibition. But this year they decided to support 30 women from both Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar who had high quality products able to compete with others from anywhere in the world. Ms Bulonda stressed that the ministry’s aim was to support small and medium scale entrepreneurs (SMEs) and find markets for their products. According to a research conducted by the ministry, SMEs had many potentials but lacked capital to start business.

However, she said the exhibition gave them an opportunity to advertise their products. It also enabled them to learn from other exhibitors in and outside the country on how to improve their products.

For his part, the Pride senior operations officer, Mr Jumanne Budala, said women had shown great awareness by participating in the exhibitions in large numbers every year.

He said this was particularly the case this year as 80 per cent of pavilions were occupied by women. He said they also have high quality products and a lot of creativeness.

According to him, the exhibition gives SMEs an opportunity for accessing new markets, increasing relations and expanding their businesses after exposure.

Meanwhile, at the TASP pavilion, Ms Zawadi Visram, an entrepreneur from Arusha dealing in artifacts and craft, said it was her fifth participation in the exhibition.

During the first time, she said, she got an order to supply picture frames made from dry bones to Serena Tours. According to her, the order made her expand business, and since then she has never looked back. She has always attended the trade fair which brings her new customers.

“The exhibition is not only for selling my products, but I also meet new customers and get a huge order for my products,” the joyful Ms Visram said.

At the same pavilion, Ms Khadija John, who is managing director of her company based in Iringa known as Khadija Designs, had an interesting story to tell.

She revealed that she did not want to be dependent on her husband, and therefore decided to be an entrepreneur.
She said at first it had not been easy. But she worked hard at her products which include clothes made from batik, ornaments and picture frames, she said.

According to her, a majority of SMEs cannot compete in international markets because they lack experience and mechanisms for packaging products.

In view of that, she called on the government to invest in SMEs as they dealt in large and medium businesses to boost the economy.

She said, like many of her colleagues, she was taking part in the exhibition because it was one way of getting customers without having to use a lot of funds in advertising.

She said since she started participating in the exhibitions two years ago, she acquired experience from other participants, both local and international. She also got new orders that have kept her busy, she said.

In the Equal Opportunity for All Trust (EOTF) pavilion, an entrepreneur from Mtwara, Ms Bibianna Moro, said like her, many women were now taking advantage of the trade fair to advertise their products.

She said a majority of women no longer depended on their husbands for support.

She said her products comprised sculptures for both domesticated and wild animals, baskets, wallets and ornaments
“I am not ready to sit back and let opportunities pass by. Doing business also gives me a lot of morale because I am able to support my family instead of just waiting for assistance from my husband,” she stressed.

Meanwhile, at the Pride Pavilion, Ms Siya Mlai from Arusha, said women have a lot of awareness and now take advantage of opportunities to strengthen their business.

Her products are made of local raw materials comprising ornaments, women handbags, clothes and home decorations.

She said she was what she was today because she continuously participated in the trade fair.  She said it had brought her together with other traders and opened new markets for her.

Dativa Rugaleo from Dar es Salaam said the fair brought them customers worldwide who would have otherwise been difficult and expensive to reach.

In Tanzania it is estimated that women especially rural women provide 80 percent of labour force in rural area and producing 60 percent of food production.  Though, they are the main producers of cash crops, the environment does not allow them to own their own wealth.  Women do not have decision on the reproductive issues for example most women cannot decide on the number of children in the family though they are the ones playing a big role in child rearing.

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