The government has been urged to set out new rules that will proper govern the importation of used vehicles, in order to protect local assembling businesses.

The advice was given to the President of Zanzibar Hussein Mwinyi by Mahboob Karmar, the board chairman of the local vehicle assembling company, during his tour at the company’s pavilion during the just ended Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair.

Karmal said used car has huge business in Tanzania, but the government should work on rules to ensure that the business is not hurting local assembling industries.

"We have the ability to assemble small vehicles, but we are failing to do so due to unhealthy competition against used vehicles importation,” he said.

During the fair, the company emerged as the overall winner in the vehicle assembling and sale of construction machinery as well as transport & logistics and the machinery/equipment and technology categories.

Speaking during his tour, Dr Mwinyi requested the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (Tantrade) to continue securing for new markets within the African continent and provide information to business community on available exports opportunities.

Dr. Mwinyi said that the opportunity to promote businesses has been well used by local companies, while explaining that more results will be seen through the flourishing of business, promoting employment and protecting local industries. 

“I am instructing all the ministries responsible for managing trade and business related activities  in the country to work together in order to find solution to all the challenges facing local businesses," said Dr Mwinyi.

Dr Mwinyi has said that the country can secure more market opportunities in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the East African market (EA) and the Sub-Saharan African market (SADC).

He said that among the products that have a market in the country and abroad are fish, seafood, seaweed, sugar, cooking oil while he urged production to be sufficient, efficiency and robust.

"I have been told that there are nine foreign markets that have been found, including South Africa, Malawi, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, so you should increase your efforts so that we can reach these markets," said Dr Mwinyi.

 "Also, the assessment shows that the exhibition has given them the opportunity to find business partners and create good relationships, so the Ministry of Industry and Trade in collaboration with Tantrade help remove non-tax barriers.”

He also wanted the removal of bureaucracy to foster business development while reiterated that the government will continue to creating conducive environment especially in strategic areas while removing taxes and fees, creating a good business environment and making systems compatible.

The 48th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair, which was closed by Dr Mwinyi, attracted more than 350 local and foreign companies from 26 countries.