TAX contentions between the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and the business community, among wholesale traders and foreign investors likewise, did not feature in remarks by President Samia Suluhu Hassan at an official opening of the 48th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) yesterday.

While the president made no remarks on the issue, late Tuesday the State House issued a statement on a series of appointments, including a new TRA commissioner general, Yusuph Juma Mwenda, who shifts from heading the TRA version in Zanzibar, the ZRA.

Similarly, the president shifted Minister Dr Ashatu Kijaji to the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment) where erstwhile portfolio holder Dr Selemani Jafo moves to Industry and Trade.

Accompanying Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi who is this year’s DITF chief guest, the president hailed the $5.68bn worth of investments recorded by the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) last year.

She underscored the government's proactive efforts to enhance trade and investment in the country, stressing the government’s role as pursuing development projects tied to ensuring resource availability and infrastructure development.

Asserting the government’s wish to guarantee a friendly trade environment, she said that for the whole of 2023, TIC registered 504 projects worth $5.68bn on account of a perceived positive business environment.

Export earnings rose from 12.3trn/- in 2019 to 17.38trn/- over the past year, she said, emphasising that the government is bent on will continue building, improving and strengthening development projects likewise infrastructures in increasing productivity, quality and standards on grade and business area, she stressed.

She appealed to traders to take up DITF participation more intensely, to link up with institutions like the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade) as the government, “will always be ready to work upon any challenges raised.”

President Nyusi affirmed being ‘humbled’ to officiate at the trade fair in what many see as a farewell gesture on his part, leaving the presidency later this year.

He said Tanzania is among the top ten investment sources in Mozambique for the past few years, with investments standing at $143m.

The two leaders had agreed on improving trade and investment ties in talks the previous day, with cashew nut production seen as a pivotal area for collaboration between the two countries.