TANZANIAN women and youth have officially announced their readiness to grab opportunities available in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market.

They explain their readiness over the weekend in Dar es Salaam, following the Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce (TWCC) launching ‘Twende Sokoni Afrika, Program’ aiming at empowering women and youths to take part in AFCFTA.

The Minister for Trade and Industries, Dr. Selemani Jafo, launched the three-year program which   will nurture and empower 50 women and youth champions from Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar ready to venture into the oceans and sea of AfCFTA.

“The three-year empowering program will enable the targeted group to fully participate in the regional and international markets through AfCFTA protocol, “said Mercy Sila, the TWCC President.

During the event, Sila said the Twende Sokoni Afrika program, supported by Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce with funding from Trademark Africa (TMA) and UN Women, will empower 50 champions to strengthen their businesses to compete in local, regional and international markets.

“The goals are to increase youth and women economical employment, individual income and the national GDP, forex earning as well as increasing the national trade volume.”

The President said the TWCC, established in 2005, has 15,000 members all over Tanzania serving more than 1,000, 000 women and youth entrepreneurs on the Mainland and Zanzibar.

She explained that the Trademark Africa among other things will empower young women about AfCFTA protocol, cross-border business (trade) principles, the available opportunities in the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), best business practices, issues regarding tariffs so as to help them benefit from the fast growing African markets.

“The program will stimulate the development of various industries, create new jobs, attract investment and capitals and at the same time promote businesses owned by women and youth countrywide.”

Twende Sokoni Afrika apart from training will nurture the champions, connect them with sources of capital and markets in Africa and elsewhere in the world, said Silla.

During the launching the Industry and Trade minister Dr. Jafo said President Samia Suluhu Hassan, is warmly congratulating TWCC, the Trademark Africa and UN Women, for making the successfully achievements and finally the implementation of that important program to champion women and youth entrepreneurs’ development and encourage them to participate in regional and international businesses.

“The women empowerment program aims to help them benefit from the opportunities available in AfCFTA, as it expects to produce 50 champions. Let me tell you Tanzania intends to be a role model in empowering women to participate in the rapidly expanding African market.” He Said.

To address the issue of funding, Jafo tasked the TWCC to engage with national banks - such as NMB, CRDB Bank to prepare a friendly and a single digit interest rate loaning program for women and youth champions for the purpose of achieving Twende Sokoni Africa program endeavour.

Mwajuma Hamza , the  TWCC Executive Director , elaborated that despite the remarkable achievements recorded by their chamber, lack of knowledge of international business, capital and access to markets are some of the challenges that pin down women and  youth entrepreneurs  to push forward.

“In collaboration with stakeholders, TWCC will continue to ensure that women and youth get the right resources and requirements which they need to support their endeavor in the competitive AfCFTA market.”

Coffee, spices and sisal products are among products that Tanzania will sell in the African market Hamza said.

“Our goal is to reach the Central and West African Markets which we haven’t reached yet.” She added.