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The
Tanzania Chamber of Commerce,
Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) was
established 20 years ago, in 1988.
It was initiated with the support of
the Tanzanian Government to
strengthen the private sector. The
establishment of the TCCIA was an
important step in moving on from a
centralized, planned economy towards
a more open, mixed economy giving
full scope to privately owned
enterprises and farms.
Today, TCCIA represents the private
business sector throughout Tanzania.
TCCIA has opened regional offices in
all 21 regions of mainland Tanzania
and over 92 district centers, which
are autonomous in their operational
activities. Assistance by Swedish
governmental development agency SIDA
has played a vital role in
establishment of the regional and
district Chambers especially in
providing training, office equipment
and mobilization/sensitization of
the business community.
These autonomous TCCIA Chambers in
21 regions of the country links the
private sector to the Government
with a view toward promoting the
development of private enterprise.
By linking issues central to
business, the Chamber serves an
arena where dialogue with the
government serves to promote
sustained growth and development of
the private sector.
All 21 Regional Chambers are
non-profit, with nominal membership
fees for its members.
TCCIA is currently having over 16000
members.
TCCIA is not only operating on its
own, it has established a wide
network of organizations and
associations and thus the Federation
of Women Entrepreneurs of Tanzania (FAWETA)
has decided to affiliate. This is a
positive development as the two
organizations have complementing
objectives. TCCIA takes the
advantage of the network to achieve
results with the device "alone you
are weak, together we are strong".
Services provided by TCCIA to the
business community include business
information, training, advocacy,
business supportive initiative (i.e.
processing business license) and
business promotion activities, for
instance, trade fairs and missions.
TCCIA has for example expertise in
many areas of interest to local
businesses for their development. It
can then offer these skills and
information in the form of Seminars,
Workshops and Training in a number
of fields. All these are related to
the business activities of the
member companies. Therefore the
demands of the companies direct the
work of the Chamber. Trade promotion
is encouraged through participation
and representation in national and
international Trade Fairs and
international delegations. This in
the long run will give member
companies the possibility to
increase trade opportunities.
The Chamber of Commerce receives a
great number of business inquiries
from all over the world. They
concern companies trying to find
customers or suppliers and are
published in newsletters, which are
distributed to all full-paid member
companies.
TCCIA organizes a number of
activities for its members and also
for those who are not members.
During the year several
seminars/workshops and courses are
taking place. It can be on different
subjects but also for different
target groups.
Advocacy and lobbying is taking
place on various levels. The
businessperson is welcome to the
chamber to get advice and contacts
on the spot or it is possible to
forward questions via email.
Lobbying is taking place on the
topic of burning issues for
businesspersons. Although, the
business community is always welcome
to give TCCIA the possibility to
intensify or bring new issues on the
agenda.
Business promotional events such as
business delegations are very
important for the international
trade. Each year TCCIA as only host
or as coordinator is organizing
business delegations to various
countries. TCCIA is also welcoming
and hosting business delegations
from other countries as well as
co-operating with other institutions
and organizations for these events |
