UK TRADE & INVESTMENT LONDON/SOUTH EAST TRADE MISSION TO TANZANIA‏

David Bilingsby, Head of the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) London/South East Trade Mission to Tanzania fields questions from journalists during a press conference held yesterday at Serena Hotel. On his left is Bikash Dawahoo, Regional Economics Advisor (Photo courtesy of the British High Commission).

14 UK companies cutting across various sectors e.g. Education and Training, Security, Consultancy, Healthcare amongst others are hoping to penetrate new trade opportunities within Tanzania by taking part in UKTI London and South East trade mission to Tanzania between October 22^nd-24^th 2014. This is the first, independent visit by UKTI London and South East to Tanzania and East Africa.

Tanzania is fast emerging as a thriving commercial entity with a GDP growth rate of over 7% year upon year. The major city of Dar es Salaam where we will be staying is the centre of most government activity as well as being the major commercial centre with its own deep water port with trading links to the landlocked countries of Malawi, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda.

Tanzania not only has some of the best wildlife in the world but also huge natural resources ranging from gemstones to natural gas. As such, it is fast becoming the regional hub for a number of multinational corporations. This will be an exciting opportunity for UK businesses to see what they can bring to the country.

Victor Mlunde, Senior Political Advisor at the British High commission explains a point at a press conference held at Serena yesterday. On his left is Bikash Dawahoo, Regional Economics Advisor and David Bilingsby, Head of the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) London/South East Trade Mission to Tanzania (Photo courtesy of the British High Commission).

As part of the programme which is being organised by UKTI in Tanzania, the delegates will have a first-hand opportunity to meet and speak with local trade associations and their members e.g. the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) and the Tanzania National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TNCCI) and the newly set-up British Chamber of Commerce Tanzania (BCCT). They will also have a chance to speak directly with business at a Business to Business event scheduled for Thursday, 23^rd October at the Serena Hotel from 1.00 to 4.00pm. We believe this will create a great opportunity for the visiting companies to meet and discuss business directly with business.

David Billingsby, UKTI International Trade Adviser, who will lead the London delegation, said:

“Having worked in Tanzania before, I know the excellence of the reception these British companies will receive. I am certain that the mission will be successful and the delegates will be saying Asante sana!”

Bikash Dawahoo, Regional Economics Advisor at the British High Commission, Dar es Salaam explains a point to members of press during a press conference on the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) London/South East Trade Mission to Tanzania held yesterday at the Serena Hotel in Dar Es Salaam (Photo courtesy of the British High Commission).

The delegation will include the following companies who will then relocate to Kenya for 26^th-30^th October:

Edward Munyard - Eagle Scientific Carl Gibbard - Concept Smoke Screen Ltd Mike Thompson - tph Machine Tools Sudhir Patel - Velmo International Christine Meade - GSVO Hanaa Chattun - Lacaze Adam Hersi - Haad Logistics Ltd Chris Stephenson & Dan Olal - McKinney Rogers Peter Charnaud & William Charnaud - Scott & Sargeant Woodworking Machinery Umair Munir - MAP IT Services Robert Magembe - InterVAS Limited UK William Rhys-Jones - Cobham Tactical Communications & Surveillance Joy Okwuadigbo - Highbury College Nemish K Mehta - e-tel (uk) ltd

Some of the local and international business people listen to the Head of the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) London/South East Trade Mission to Tanzania, David Bilingsby (not in picture) as he clarifies a point to members of press. On extreme right is Fatuma Kweka, Trade Officer at the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) department at the British High Commission, Dar Es Salaam (Photo courtesy of the British High Commission).

A cross section of members of press listen keenly to the Head of Head of the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) London/South East Trade Mission to Tanzania, David Bilingsby (not in picture) as he clarifies a point (Photo courtesy of the British High Commission).