ILO highlights women entrepreneurs’ contribution to Tanzania’s economy

Dar es Salaam (ILO NEWS): The 10th Women Entrepreneurs Exhibition in Tanazania, was launched in the presence of Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Charles J. Mwijage, who commended the women entrepreneurs for their ten years of involvement in business development services. The exhibition was organized in Dar es Salaam from 31 October to 05 November 2016, with the theme ”Ten years of MOWE, buy products from women entrepreneurs and contribute to the national income”.

Hon. Charles J. Mwijage noted that this is a great contribution to the government’s development agenda within the 2nd Five Year National Development Plan and Development Vision 2025, which emphasizes on nurturing industrialization for economic transformation and Human development.

“ ...The Government will continue to encourage the private sector, including the women entrepreneurs to invest in the manufacturing sector, and establishment of small, medium and large industries...this will facilitate in the creation of jobs, provide requirements to other sectors, and contribute directly to national GDP...”.

Mr. Jealous Chirove ILO Employment Specialist, ILO Country Office Dar es Salaam, said,

“ …Despite taking up their rightful space in the competitive world of business, surviving tough market competitions, managing their other multi tasks in society and their families, still the women entrepreneurs are contributing to the government’s industrialization and human development agenda through the value addition activities they undertake...”.

The exhibition which was organized with support from the ILO and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, brought together more than 150 women entrepreneurs from Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.

In collaboration with ILO, the Ministry recently launched a five-year Women Entrepreneurship Development National Action Plan (WED-NAP), 2016 - 2020. The plan aims at promoting women entrepreneurship development through creating enabling environment for women-owned enterprises.

• enhancing their representation and
• facilitating services for enterprise growth through sourcing for finance, markets and business training.

The National Industrial Survey Report 2013, indicates that there are a total of about 49,300 industries, of which 99.15% are very small and small industries with remaining 0.85% being the medium and large ones. This shows that investing in small scale industries not only requires lesser capital but also absorbs more youth and women entrepreneurs. According a 2012 statistics, women entrepreneurs constituted 54.3% of all entrepreneurs in the country.

Month of Women Entrepreneurs (MOWE) exhibitions provide an annual forum for women entrepreneurs to have a platform for dialogue with key stakeholders, such as government, development partners and financial institutions on their needs and demands for growing and expanding their businesses. It is also a platform for women entrepreneurs to exchange experiences, network and forge strategic partnerships.