Makamu wa Rais akabidhi tuzo za mzalishaji bora,huku Alliance One ikiibuka kidedea

Na Mwandishi Wetu, Dar es Salaam.

Makamu wa Rais Dk Isidory Mpango, amemwakilisha Rais Samia Suluhu Hassan kwenye kukabidhi tuzo mzalishaji bora wa bidhaa za viwanda,huku kampuni ya tumbaku Alliance One,ikiibuka kidedea kwenye tuzo za Rais za Mzalishaji Bora(PMAYA) zinazoandaliwa kila mwaka na Shirikisho la viwanda nchini CTI.

Kampuni hiyo imekwapua ushindi huo kwenye eneo la wazalishaji wakubwa wa bidhaa za tumbaku,  ambapo kampuni zingine zaidi ya 42 zilichuana kwenye tuzo hizo za mwaka huu zilizofanyika Ijumaa Novemba 8.

Akiongea kwenye hafla hiyo Makamu wa Rais amewapongeza shirikisho la lenye viwanda nchini kwamba sekta hiyo ni nguzo muhimu kwenye uchumi wa taifa.

Amewapa changamoto tano ambazo amesema wazalishaji hao wanapaswa kuzifanyia kazi zikiwemo umuhimu wa kuvilea na kuvikuza viwanda vinavyochipukia ili viweze kukua zaidi na kuhimiri mtikisiko wa chumi za dunia.

Pia amesema wamiliki hao wa viwanda wanapaswa kuongeza nguvu kwenye utunzani wa mazingira pamoja na urejeshaji bidhaa viwandani yaani recycling kwa kiingereza.

Amewaasa wenye viwanda kuja na mkakati dhabiti utakaoweza kutoa ajira kwa vijana wengi wasio na ajira walioko mitaani,ambapo pia alisema serikali kwa upande wake imeanza kubadili aina ya elimu zinazotokewa nchini ili ziendane na fursa za ajira zilizopo mitaani.

Aidha amesema CTI wanapaswa kuja na mpango atazimi wa vijana ,lakini pia amewaasa wadau hao kujipanga ili kupambana na bidhaa feki zinazoingia kwa wingi nchini na kuharibu soko letu.

Msemaji wa Alliance One Wakili John Magoti amelishukuru shirikisho hilo kwa kutambua alama inayowekwa na kampuni hiyo kwenye sekta ya viwanda hususani vya kilimo.

Amesema tuzo ambayo wameipokea kwa miaka mitatu mfululizo unatokana ushirikiano mwema walionao kampuni hiyo na wafanyakazi na wadau wengine kwenye sekta ya tumbaku wakiwemo wakulima wanaofanya nao biashara.

Amesema kampuni yake imejipanga vizuri kuendelea kulichakata zao hilo hapa nchini ili sekta hiyo ndogo iendelee kushamiri na kuliingizia zaidi taifa pato la kigeni.

"Tumejipanga vizuri kuboresha zaidi utunzaji wa mazingira kiwandani na sasa tunaenda kutumia zaidi umeme jua wakati wa mchana na mpango huu tunauteleza kwa mahsusi kwani sekta yenu ni rafiki wa mazingira," amesema.

Naye Naibu Waziri wa Viwanda na Biashara Exaud Kigahe, amewapongeza CTI kwa kuziendeleza tuzo hizo walizozianzisha miaka 18 iliyopita,ambazo zimeleta ufanisi na ustawi wa uchumi wa nchi wa nchini.

"Serikali itaendelea kuweka na kutekeleza ya kuviendeleza viwanda vyetu nchini ambapo wakati huu tunarekebisha sera ya viwanda vikubwa na viwanda vidogo ili iweze kuwa na ufanisi zaidi,"amesema.

Aidha amesema serikali inaendelea kutenga maeneo ya ujenzi wa viwanda nchini,ambapo wilaya na mikoa yote imepokea maelekezo ya kufanya hivyo.

Amesema serikali itaendelea kushirikiana na wadau wa viwanda ili kama nchiniweze kunufaika ujio wa eneo huru la Afrika ambalo limetarajiwa kuanza rasmi mwaka 2025.

Kwa upande wake,Mwenyekiti wa shirikisho hilo Paul Makanza ameishukuru serikali sikivu ya Rais wa Jamhuri wa Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan kusikia na kuondoa kero za wenye viwanda ambazo waliziwakilisha kwake mwaka jana.

Amezitaja kero hizo kuwa ni tatizo la umeme nchini,ambalo sasa limekwisha kabisa na nchi ina umeme wa ziada.

"Mwaka jana pia tulikuwa na tatizo la uhaba wa dola,ambalo limetatuliwa na mwaka huu halipo tena kwa maana halisikiki tena," amesema.

Ameishukuru serikali kuyapatia ufumbuzi matatizo ya kikodi miongoni mwa wanachama wa shirikisho hilo, ambapo pia serikali imeanzisha ofisi maalum ya kusikiliza kero za kitaifa za kikodi.

Pia ameiomba serikali kuangalia mbele na kushughulikia matatizo yanayojitokeza nchini ikiwemo uhaba wa shilingi pamoja na kucheleweshwa kwa malipo ya wakandarasi nchini.

Washindi wa jumla kwenye tuzo hizo ni Kampuni ya Sigara,TCC, wakifuatiwa Plascon ambao ameshika nafasi ya pili huku ALAF wakishika nafasi ya tatu.

Naibu Waziri wa Viwanda na Biashara Exaud Kigahe,(katikati) akimkabidhi Wakili John Magoti ambaye kampuni yake ya Alliance One imetwaa tuzo ya ushindi ya mzalishaji bora wa sekta ya bidhaa za tumbaku kwenye hafla ya utoaji tuzo hizo iliyofanyika leo Jiji Dar es Salaam.Anayeshuhudia ni Mwenyekiti wa CTI Paul Makanza.Tukio hilo lilihudhuriwa pia Makamu wa Rais Isidor Mpango.

Wafanyakazi wa Alliance One wakifurahia tuzo yao.

Vice President Presents Awards for Best Producers, with Alliance One Emerging as the Winner

By Our Writer, Dar es Salaam

Vice President Dr. Philip Isdor Mpango, representing President Samia Suluhu Hassan, presented awards for the best industrial manufacturers , with the tobacco company Alliance One taking the top prize in the President's Awards for Best Producers (PMAYA), organized annually by the Confederation of Tanzanian Industries (CTI).

Alliance One won the award in the category of large tobacco procesing category  , where more than 100  companies competed in this year’s awards, which took place on Friday, November 8th.

Speaking at the event, the Vice President congratulated the industrial federation, emphasizing that the industrial sector is a critical pillar to the national economy.

He challenged the producers with five key points, including the importance of nurturing and growing emerging industries so they can thrive and withstand the global economic shocks.

He also stated that factory owners must strengthen environmental conservation efforts, including improving recycling processes.

He encouraged industrialists to come up with a solid strategy that will create more job opportunities for unemployed youth in urban areas. He also mentioned that the government is already working to adapt the country’s education system to better align with available job opportunities.

The Vice President also urged the CTI to develop a youth-centered strategy and he also  warned stakeholders to prepare for the fight against the influx of counterfeit products, which are damaging the local market.

Speaking on behalf of Alliance One Tobacco Tanzania Limited , the compaany Spokesperson , Advocate  John Magoti expressed gratitude to the CTI for recognizing the company’s contribution to the industrial sector, particularly in agri processing. 

He noted that the award they have received for the three consecutive years reflects the strong collaboration between the company, its employees, and other stakeholders in the tobacco sector, including the farmers with whom they do business.

He assured that the company is well-prepared to continue processing tobacco locally, aiming to further develop this small sector and increase foreign exchange earnings for the country.

"We are committed to improving environmental conservation in our factories, and we are now focusing more on utilizing renewable energy such as solar  energy. This is among other  ESG staretegies by the company doing to mitigate and improve the enviroment  throughout   its value chain ," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade, Exaud Kigahe, congratulated CTI for continuing the awards established 18 years ago, which have contributed to the success and prosperity of the national economy.

“The government will continue to implement policies that support the development of industries in the country. At this time, we are reviewing policies for both large and small industries to ensure greater effectiveness,” he said.

He added that the government is continuing to designate areas for industrial development across the country, with all districts and regions having received instructions to do so.

The government will also collaborate with industry stakeholders to ensure that the country benefits from the upcoming African Free Trade Area, which is expected to officially begin in 2025.

For his part, CTI Chairman Paul Makanza thanked the responsive government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan for listening to and addressing the challenges faced by industrialists, which they raised with her last year.

He listed these challenges, including the electricity problem, which has now been resolved, and the foreign currency shortage, which has been addressed and is no longer an issue this year.

"Last year, we also had issues with taxes, which have been resolved, and the government has set up a special office to handle national tax grievances," he said.

He also urged the government to continue addressing emerging issues in the country, such as the shortage of Tanzanian shillings and delays in payments to contractors.

The overall winners of the awards were the Tanzania Cigarette Company (TCC), followed by Plascon in second place, and ALAF in third.