Accra: Tanzania’s export earnings surged by 40 per cent in 2024 to reach 3.94 billion US dollars from African markets alone as the government intensified efforts to secure reliable markets for locally produced goods and unlock thousands of new jobs for young people. Speaking to the media this week, Minister for Industry and Trade Judith Kapinga said the strong performance reflects the growing impact of regional and global market access on Tanzania’s industrial and commercial sectors, saying that assured markets remain central to sustaining production and expanding trade.
According to Nam News Network, Kapinga noted that intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has been a major driver of the export surge. The growth was fueled by increased exports of agricultural and industrial products, including coffee, tobacco, glass products, cereals, spices, and sisal fibers. She highlighted that AfCFTA has opened new markets for Tanzanian products in countries such as Nigeria, Morocco,
Senegal, Ethiopia, Ghana, Algeria, Djibouti, and Guinea, creating fresh opportunities for exporters across multiple sectors.
On this basis, Kapinga informed Tanzanians about the significant opportunities, especially for young people, to establish export-oriented businesses in agriculture, value addition, spices, food processing, clothing, and industrial products. The government has already prepared and launched a National Strategy for the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area to maximize gains for the national economy.
Beyond Africa, Kapinga mentioned Tanzania’s strengthened presence in the European market. Exports to the European Union rose from 633.5 million US dollars in 2023 to 686.3 million US dollars in 2024, representing a 7.6 per cent increase. This rise was driven by higher exports of avocados, cocoa, coffee, tobacco, and minerals. In Asia, Tanzania earned 2.84 billion US dollars from exports in 2024, compared to 2.92 billion US dollars in 2023, with key products including cashe
w nuts, pulses, avocados, cotton, groundnuts, and goat meat.
Kapinga emphasized the importance of addressing structural challenges to participate effectively in trade, such as accelerating the formalization of businesses and improving digital systems supporting investors and entrepreneurs. The government has made progress in simplifying business registration and licensing procedures, reorienting regulatory institutions to facilitate rather than enforce.
The minister highlighted the ongoing reforms, including the online offering of all business registration and licensing services through platforms like the Online Registration System (ORS), Tanzania National Business Portal (TNBP), and Beneficial Ownership Portal (BO). These systems have improved service delivery by making processes faster and more accessible, with continuous upgrades to enhance user-friendliness and support sustainable economic development.
Kapinga also mentioned the integration of the ORS with 29 government and private institutions, enabli
ng seamless access to information. Additionally, the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) established a Customer Service Call Centre receiving between 300 and 500 calls daily, enhancing communication and addressing challenges efficiently, with all calls recorded and archived for accountability and service improvement.