Guangzhou. In a bid to bolster economic empowerment among Tanzanians, CRDB Bank has sponsored a delegation of 36 entrepreneurs to attend the prestigious Canton International Trade Fair in China.
The globally acclaimed trade exhibition draws participants from across the world, offering direct access to manufacturers and suppliers of a wide range of goods and services.
This exposure is expected to enhance the participants’ ability to manage and expand their business ventures effectively.
CRDB Bank’s head of agency banking, Ms Catherine Rutenge, who is leading the delegation, told The Citizen that the initiative is part of the bank’s wider commitment to building customer capacity through training and international exposure.
“Our clients will spend about two weeks in China, visiting factories that manufacture various goods commonly sold in Tanzania,” she said.
“This exposure will enable them to gain practical knowledge about pricing, quality standards, and product design, informed by their customers’ preferences,” added Ms Rutenge.
She explained that CRDB Bank, through the CRDB Bank Foundation, supports entrepreneurs starting at the micro level, noting that the Foundation conducts outreach programmes in markets and bus terminals across the country.
She added that these capacity-building efforts are reinforced through seminars and clients’ active participation in international trade fairs such as the ongoing Canton Fair.
“With representation from countries around the world, the fair offers a unique opportunity for learning and networking. We are committed to supporting our customers through every available platform to help them achieve financial independence,” she said.
One of the beneficiaries, Ms Rose Mongo, a trader of wedding gowns and accessories from Karagwe in Kagera Region, described the trip as life-changing.
“This initiative includes entrepreneurs from almost every region in Tanzania. Today, we toured a major product market in Yiwu, and I discovered business opportunities I had never imagined. I’m deeply thankful to CRDB Bank for this chance,” said Ms Mongo.
She expressed optimism that the experience would enable her to form direct partnerships with textile factories, allowing her to source quality fabrics at competitive prices.
“Buying directly from the factory is significantly more affordable than relying on intermediaries in Kariakoo. These new connections will enable me to reduce costs and offer my customers better products at more reasonable prices,” she added.
The Canton International Trade Fair, held biannually in Guangzhou (formerly Canton), has been a flagship international commercial event since its establishment in 1957.
The fair continues to attract leading global firms, providing a vital platform for entrepreneurs to network, forge partnerships, and expand their reach in global markets.
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Tanzania: Samia Hands Over NBC’s 354m/ – Crop Insurance Compensation to Farmers Affected By Hailstorms
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has handed over a cheque of 354m/- from the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) as compensation to tobacco farmers, who were affected by hailstorms during the previous farming season in various regions across the country.
Handing over the cheque in Dodoma, the compensation is part of the crop insurance service provided by NBC in collaboration with the National Insurance Corporation (NIC).
Furthermore, President Samia has also handed over health insurance coverage to members of the Lindi Mwambao Cooperative Union based in Lindi Region, through the Farmers’ Health Insurance service provided by the bank in partnership with Assurance Insurance Company.
While visiting the bank’s pavilion at the Nanenane Agricultural Exhibition and being received and briefed by the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Theobald Sabi, she said: “This crop insurance is one of the crucial solutions in ensuring farmers have a reliable income, without fear of challenges such as natural disasters, including hailstorms.
“I call upon all farmers in the country to make the best use of this important opportunity by accessing these kinds of insurance services. I also highly commend NBC and all the stakeholders participating in this programme.”
Elaborating further on the crop insurance service, the Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, stated that it will help to recover the loss farmers incurred, especially in various calamities beyond their control.
Citing them as floods, fires, and hailstorms, which have significantly affected the well-being of farmers and caused some to be reluctant to invest in the crucial sector, Mr Bashe added: “However, our President, this step by NBC is just the beginning, as this is the second year since they started offering this service, and the results are already visible.
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“As the government, we promise to continue supporting the wider implementation of this service, with the goal of ensuring that this crop insurance service reaches more farmers.”
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On his part, Mr Sabi said that the farmers who benefited from the compensations are from 23 primary cooperative unions in the regions of Shinyanga, Geita, Tabora, Mbeya, Katavi, and Kigoma.
He added: “In addition to these insurance services, as a bank, through this exhibition, we have continued with our programme of providing financial education and various banking opportunities to farmers, alongside offering them various loans, including loans for agricultural equipment, particularly tractors, to eligible farmers.:
At the NBC booth, President Samia also had the opportunity to be briefed on the various services offered by the bank to the farmers namely crop insurance and health insurance services.
There, the President had the chance to speak with some of the beneficiaries of the services, including the Vice-Chairman of the Lindi Mwambao Primary Cooperative Union, Mr. Hassan Mnumbe, whose union has been provided with a health insurance card from the bank.
Source: allafrica.com
