The United Republic of Tanzania is the Champion of the 23rd Edition of the East African Community Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Trade Fair, popularly known as the Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition from Bujumbura, Burundi.
Tanzania was made proud by Dr. Harriet James Mkaanga, the proprietor of Moro Batiki Group Company Limited which deals in fashion and textiles while Kenya Came Second with Eden Leather products and Uganda was in the third position for innovation on Shear-Butter products by Giri Melody Uganda.
These were the overall winners from over 1,500 exhibitors from the Seven East African Community Nations who had gathered in Bujumbura from December 5th to 15th 2023 in promotion of a common affordable market under the guidance of the East African Community Secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania.
The Exhibitors were scored by a team of Judges picked from all the participating countries based on alignment to the theme, customer care, originality of the products, innovation and creativity, and product packaging and display among others.
Many businesses including innovation in Agribusiness, Craft and Design, East African wines made from natural products, Innovation in Herbal products, and Fashion among others were the products that stood out during the exhibition. The winning records of the exhibition have been rotating between Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
The 21st edition took place in Mwanza, Tanzania where Kenya took the first position, and in Uganda during the 22nd edition of Jua-Kali, Uganda took the award with the solar-powered vehicle and now Tanzania has claimed the 23rd edition ranking of exhibitors.
The excited winner, Harriet James Mkaanga attributed her win to the support provided fully by the Government of Tanzania when going for such an exhibition, according to her, the government funds the transport and half upkeep and accommodation for stay during the exhibition.
This is absolute news to some countries including Uganda where the traders normally have to sort out all expenses while traveling without any direct funding support from the government- this is because Tanzania has the whole Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Kenya has a Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, a Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) whose mandate is promotion, development, and regulation of MSMEs, putting them ahead in the Region in terms of support to their business and trading nationals
This means even if Harriet James Mkaanga and other Tanzanian or Kenyan exhibitors made losses during the exhibition, it will never negatively impact their businesses, some of the lessons other countries like Uganda might have to buy in to boost the capacity of their trading nationals.
Dr. Harriet James Mkaanga shared her excitement with The Elephant News Media during an interview after Tanzania was declared the winner at the Golf course Ground during the closing ceremony.
Audio File One.: Dr. Harriet James Mkaanga on winning-Eng
Ms. Annette Ssemuwemba, the East African Community Secretariat Deputy Secretary General in charge of Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs said her secretariat always uses every exhibition to make the next one a better one and thanked the exhibitors for endeavoring until the last moment without any record of indiscipline and acts that soils the name of the exhibition to the host country.
She also called for post-discussion for the involvement of the Services Industries within the Partner States including creating a wider market and improved visibility for upcoming exhibitions.
Since Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and DR Congo are part of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Ms. Annette confirmed to The Elephant Media, that they are already working with COMESA as part of the market widening for the Jua Kali people and other arrangements beyond just the East African Community markets to the advantage of the East African Community Block traders and business community.
Audio File Two: Ms. Annette on other Market-Eng
Nijimbere Marie-Chantal, the Burundi Minister of Commerce, Transport Industry and Tourism who presided over the official closure on December,15th,2023 thanked all the members state and the exhibitors for having embraced Burundi.
About the 23rd Edition of Jua Kali in Burundi:
The 23rd Edition of the EAC Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Trade Fair, popularly known as the Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition, was officially opened on December 8th,2023 by the Vice President of the Republic of Burundi, H.E. Prosper Bazombanza.
The 23rd EAC MSMEs Trade Fair ran from the 5th to 15th December 2023 at the Cercle Hyppique or Golf Course Grounds in Bujumbura, Burundi attracted more than 1,000 artisans from all seven (7) EAC Partner states.
The theme of the 23rd edition was “Connecting East African MSMEs to enhance Intra-EAC Trade,” which aligns with the EAC.
Ends
