DAR ES SALAAM: LOCAL manufacturers have been urged to adopt the national brand ‘Made in Tanzania’ as a strategic tool to increase product value, protect domestic markets and enhance competitiveness in regional and international markets.
The Tantrade Director of Trade Development, Ms Lulu Mkude, said recently that the logo serves as an official identity for goods and services produced within the country and is a critical instrument for building an industrial economy.
“The use of the Made in Tanzania logo enhances the value of local products, builds consumer trust and strengthens the competitiveness of our manufacturers in both regional and international markets.
“This logo is more than just a mark of identity, it is a strategic tool to protect the domestic market, stimulate the production of locally sourced raw materials and promote a self-reliant industrial economy,” said Ms Mkunde.
She said using the label is a matter of pride, but it is also a strategic approach to building a manufacturing economy and increasing the value of their products.
Tantrade Manager for Capacity Building and Advisory Services Mr Boniface Mrema noted that the brand would enable local producers to access markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the East African Community (EAC).
He said that the absence of a unified national brand in previous years had led to some Tanzanian-made products being exported under foreign labels, undermining national identity and revenue potential.
Speaking from an economic and policy perspective, Mr Octavian Mshiu, an Expert in Private Sector Development and Economic Diplomacy, said the Made in Tanzania initiative aligns with the country’s broader strategy of building an independent and self-sustaining economy.
Mr Mshiu drew parallels with China’s post-Mao economic development model, where the nation strengthened domestic industries, utilised local resources and expanded internal markets before increasing its global reach.
Presenting statistics, Mshiu revealed that in 2024, Tanzania spent 400 million US dollars on imported edible oil.
“These funds could remain within our economy if we invest appropriately in domestic production and value chains,” he said.
For example, Mr Mshiu suggested a coordinated government-private sector strategy to boost cotton farming, noting that it could create jobs, supply raw materials to local textile and oil industries, and promote value-added exports instead of exporting raw materials.
“It is not enough to just grow crops, we must also control the importation of products that can be produced locally. That is how we build a strong domestic economy,” Mshiu noted.
He added that manufacturers who develop expertise and maintain high-quality standards using local inputs will have competitive products in both domestic and international markets.