The Tanzania
Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA)
was established 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. |