Spices, avocado, coffee and leather goods producers have been urged to increase the quality of their products to benefit from European Union (EU) and East African Community (EAC) region.

The call was made by Safari Fungo, the Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP 11)’s Country coordinator last week when speaking to participants of the capacity building training on market analysis and trade- related information with funding from  the European Union (EU) held last week.

A total of 17 trainees from the ministry of agriculture, business community, Zanzibar National Chamber of Commerce, The University of Dar es salaam (UDSM) were trained on ITC market analysis tools and trade related information tools.

Other topics included trade map, market access map, export potential map and how to be effective trainers to impart the knowledge to MSMEs to help them tap into those markets.

Other participants were from the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and agriculture (TCCIA), ministry of trade and industrial Development- Zanzibar.

The training was offered by two experts from the International Trade Centre (ITC) and was meant to obtain new trainers who will train MSMEs within the country on how to add value of their product.

Sagon Djete, programme manager, EU Delegation to Tanzania and East African Community (EAC)’s said that the training aimed at ensuring that future trade professionals are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate and thrive in the complex global trade environment.

 “As we embark on MARKUP 11, our mission is to reactive and  expand this successful network in Tanzania and extend it to the other five  EAC countries that includes Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda  leading up to this  training of Trainers (ToT) workshop,” he said

Lesaffre Vianney, International Trade Centre (ITC’s) market analysis expert called upon trainees who will become trainers to provide knowledge and skills to MSMEs that will help them to achieve something in accordance with the business they have.

“ All trainers you’re responsible to play you’re part, you need to be creative for the trainings that you’re going to provide to MSMEs to enable them export what is required in the target markets,’ he said

Emphasizing on quality and packaging issues, he says it is very important for trainers to teach MSMEs how to put information in a labels of their products, prepare food product labels that are truthful, not misleading, unambiguous, meaningful and help consumers to understand the data provided with respect to nutritional information, type of food, consumer care details and other statutory requirements in line with all applicable laws and regulations.

He said being a certified trainer on Trade Map and Market Access Map it is very important and mandatory to report to ITC, any training facilitated.