Govt assures SMEs on addressing packaging challenges

Mbuya said the move has been hindering the development of small and medium entrepreneurs in accessing both local and foreign markets.

He was speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday at a workshop convened by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) to discuss among others, challenges facing SMEs in packaging their products.

TBS is implementing a European Union (EU) supported programme to SMEs being monitored by the Ministry of Finance.

The TASP11 programme officer said already the EU had agreed to support the packaging technology centre located at the TBS premises.

He said the EU had already dished out about Sh2billion which was spent to buy modern equipment to test various packaging materials.

“Commencement of the centre would enable most SMEs to access markets of their produce within and outside the country,” he said.

Project Imprest Administrator Kezia Mbwambo from TBS said most SMEs lacked enough information about packaging, thus the centre would help to bridge the gap.

The centre was established as part of government efforts to support coordinated development of the packaging industry by strengthening its standardization and testing capability.

It will also provide testing facilities for food packages, as well as availing structural and graphic designs for the industry.

She added that its other function would be to provide packaging information, and to offer services certification facilities.

The centre - the first of its kind in the East African Community – was built by the government with support from Danish Development Agency (Danida), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (Unido), and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

Explaining further she said most manufacturers have now improved the quality of their products but are yet to do much in packaging improvement.

She said poor packaging technology had denied manufactures of income and government of revenue.

"Always consumers like to purchase products which are in quality packaging, so there is a need for all players to look for improved packaging,' she said.

The government has established the centre being part of its efforts to support a coordinated development of the packaging industry by strengthening the existing standardization and testing capability in the area of packaging.

It has been proposed that a centre for packaging technology should be set up within TBS to help in the orderly development of packaging technology within the country.