Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS)

The government has opened discussion to review areas that need to be improved in the implementation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement.

This was remarked recently during the meeting of the National Executive Committee responsible for looking and evaluating the implementation of the business empowerment under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by the National Executive Committee.

The National Executive Committee role is to oversee performance and implementation of the international agreement on business empowerment under WTO.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry and Trade Dr Hashil Abdallah said at the meeting that the committee met to look at the country’s responsibilities on the implementation of the WTO agreement.

“The meeting started by looking at Tanzania’s role and responsibility as a country and which things should be taken into consideration in implementing the WTO agreement successfully and for the benefit of our country,” he said.

The WTO role in to help trade flow as freely as possible – provided there are no undesirable side effects – because this stimulates economic growth and employment and supports the integration of developing countries into the international trading system.

The multilateral trading system is an attempt by governments to make the business environment stable and predictable. Therefore, when countries agree to open their markets for goods or services, they ‘bind’ their commitments.

In this respect, the committee is required to report to the country and the regional development communities on the implementation of the responsibilities.

Some of the regional development communities are namely the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC).

“In order to evaluate and issue strategic directives, the National Executive Committee on business empowerment should meet with executives and the whole community through private sector and government institutions overseeing business activities,” he said.

The meeting was attended by representatives from various institutions including the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), Tanzania Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture (TCIAA), the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) and other government institutions including the port.

He said the government is not to do business but its obligation is to create friendly environment to attract more investment into the country.

For example, the period needed to obtain the permits for investing in the country should go down as well as reducing the cost of doing business.

Dr Hashil said the committee should meet to evaluate the country’s responsibilities in the agreement and come with resolutions.

The resolutions will help in crafting the way forward towards reaching the expected success.