Tanzania women entrepreneurs have called on the government to impose higher tariff on imported products to protect them from unfair competition in the market.

The Chairperson of Month of Women Entrepreneurs (MOWE) exhibition, Ms Eliahika Mrema said cheap imported goods that have flourished in the market were discouraging local production threatening to put them out of business.

She made a call in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday during the official launching of the MOWE exhibition that was graced by the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investments, Mr Charles Mwijage.

She said the target for the trade presentation is to link women entrepreneurs with their stakeholders, including bankers to discuss challenges facing local women entrepreneurs. Also is an opportunity for them to advertise and promote their commodities in order to motivate the local and international market for home-made commodities.

“Besides, these trade-fair helps to strengthen the network of the women entrepreneurs,” she stressed and claimed that insufficient capitals and areas for trading are still challenging their move on. Mr Mwijage urged the women to be confident in their activities because they have already proved they could do better what men do.

“Entrepreneurship does not mean existing in small businesses, it is the start with small trades and develop capital to big businesses. I challenge you to go for training on how to improve your entrepreneurship activities at the Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO) in order to easily conquer local and international market,” The trade-fair also attracted a Kenyan businessman, Namwel Bosire who is dealing with art craft commodities.

He said the trade-fair, said is well organised also helping to promote and advertise the products of entrepreneurs. Rose Otieno, a Manager of RoBi Leather Product company based in Tabora Region, commented that market for local products is still a major challenge to them because many Tanzanians prefer foreign than local products. She said sometimes it is due to the low quality of local products.