TanTrade wins third place at WTPO Awards

GENEVA: Tanzania’s Trade Development Authority (TanTrade) has won a third place in an innovative digital platform at the World Trade Promotion Organizations Awards for its initiative to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through trade.

Trade promotion agencies from Brazil, France, and Switzerland took top honors at the WTPO Awards that were organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC).

The awards recognised trade organizations for best use of partnerships, best use of information technology and best initiative for inclusive and sustainable trade.

Latifa Khamis, TanTrade Director General said “We are honored to be finalists in the World Trade Promotion Organization Awards.

This underscores our commitment for using digital technology to assist Tanzanian businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, in reaching international markets.”

The Director General said the agency is committed to further develop the platform and improve its functionalities to enable an even greater number of Tanzanian businesses to compete globally.

Business France won the Best Use of Partnerships title with Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Agency taking the runner-up spot.

Switzerland Global Enterprise won the Best Use of Information Technology, while the Export and Investment Center of the Dominican Republic became the runner-up.

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On the Best Initiative for Inclusive and Sustainable Trade, ApexBrasil emerged the winner while Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board took over the runner-up.

TanTrade was acknowledged in the Best Use of Information Technology category for its online portal that has helped over 93,000 small businesses streamline export-import procedures.

Government data shows Tanzania’s exports grew from $6.3 billion in 2021 to $7.2 billion in 2023, following the portal’s launch.

The platform has also reduced compliance costs by nearly 50 per cent in sectors such as coffee and honey. The authority aims to expand the service to include information on 200 products by 2026.

The ITC’s awards are held every two years, with a record number of applications in 2024, including many from women-led organizations.