UNDP & CRDB Bank of Tanzania to Empower SMEs to Reap Benefits AfCFTA

(3 Minutes Read)

UNDP Resident Representative Shigeki Komatsubara said it was important for various players to collaborate in ensuring that Tanzanians realise the AfCFTA benefits.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the CRDB Bank Foundation have launched a guide to help Tanzanian micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) participate in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The initiative provides MSMEs with tools and knowledge to expand across African markets.

Gracing the guide launch on Monday, March 3, 2025, the deputy minister for Industry and Trade, Exaud Kagahe, said the government was committed to supporting MSMEs as key drivers of employment and economic growth.

The initiative provides SMEs with resources, including market entry guidance, value chain mapping, and a simplified AfCFTA Guide to help entrepreneurs navigate trade procedures and regulations. UNDP Resident Representative Shigeki Komatsubara said it was important for various players to collaborate in ensuring that Tanzanians realize the AfCFTA benefits.

CRDB Bank Foundation managing director, Tully Esther Mwambapa, highlighted the need to empower MSMEs. The UNDP-CRDB Bank Foundation capacity-building initiative also strengthens SME competitiveness and trade readiness.

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Collaborations with key institutions, including the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA), and Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), ensure that SMEs receive support to engage in AfCFTA markets. This initiative is a step forward in positioning Tanzania SMEs to benefit from AfCFTA and promote economic integration.