Top local brands to be picked

The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) Director General, Mr Joseph Masikitiko, told reporters here that the exhibition is aimed at promoting local products.

Speaking at a joint press conference with the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), he said local manufacturers have been invited to display their products whereas the national steering committee would pick the best 50 brands which will be awarded and be marketed as the country is in a move to promote Made in Tanzania products.

He said the best brands would be sent in a quality competition during the Africa Standards Day which Tanzania will host in June, this year.Mr Masikitiko called upon the manufacturers to ensure that they bring high quality products to stand chance of winning during the Africa awards event.

The expo with a theme of “How Standards contribute to women empowerment and development” is a national level celebrations as the country is heading towards an Africa event.

On his part, TPSF Executive Director, Mr Godfrey Simbeye, said they were using all means possible to ensure that local products were being purchased not only locally but abroad as well and be looked at as the best in terms of quality.

“This is just a start, we will be awarding the products not personalities and from there we will go for the services as well,” he said. He said it was disturbing to see the shelves in shops and supermarkets were filled with foreign products and noted it required deliberate measures to reverse the trend.

“We insist on quality and the best products manufacturers will be exposed to local and international manufacturers to see how best they can improve their items and strive and maintain the quality,” he said.

Mr Simbeye stressed on the need for private sector to strive for quality if they are to win the global value chains for their products.

SOURCE: DAILY NEWS

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