Honourable Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda launched the annual Pan African Competitive Forum conference on 13th
The seminar that has been taking place from 11th to 15 August 2014 in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, is jointly organised by the Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), PACF-Tanzania and Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) , The meeting aims to enhance Africa's social economic development through innovation and cluster based competitiveness as a catalyst for transformation, innovation, entrepreneurship and accelerating regional integration and intra-Africa trade.
The gathering has brought together the government, academics and the private sectors from Ghana, Senegal, Finland, Kenya, Uganda, Japan, Sweden, South Africa, Botswana Nigeria as well as Tanzania.
"The government is playing an active role in supporting clusters, I believe through program we are going to break through the world market,'' Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda said during the event adding that the government anticipates having 300 clusters and 500 facilitators by 2020.
Prof Burton Mwamila, the chairman of PACF executive Board said that clusters are seen as excellent vehicles to ensure that there is innovativeness in the products produced in African countries."Innovation in clusters is vital because it enables value addition, competition, growth and thus enhances development, '' he said.
Mwamila said that the cluster initiative programme in Tanzania has been developing since its establishment in 2003."We started with eight clusters and now we have 70 clusters and 200 cluster facilitators (trainers),'he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Hassan Mshinda the Director General of the Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) said that the cluster programme has the potential of transforming the African economy. August 2014, "Through this meeting we expect to exchange knowledge, share experience and build capacity of our cluster programme, '' Dr Mshinda said.
Dan Sjögren from Scandinavian Institute for Competitiveness and Development Swedish who represented the Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA) commended PACF-Tanzania for its achievements in reinforcing the cluster programme.SIDA is the major donor of the cluster programmed in Tanzania.
"SIDA has contributed an important part in cluster development but this is a minor part, '' he added 'The big part has been done in Tanzania. Facilitators have worked hard to make the business plan work in reality, '' he said.
On his part Prof Makame Mbarawa, the Minister of Communication, Science and Technology urged local governments to promote and engage academics with clusters. ''Innovative clusters should be adopted to create employment,'' Mbarawa said.
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Agroup photo of the PACF meeting participants with the Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda.
