Soft drink producers in Tanzania have raised alarm over possible suspension of production following a deepening crisis of industrial sugar.
The raw material used in the production in some of the firms can only last for a week.
So far one carbonated drink manufacturer - Sayona Dar es Salaam has already shut down production, while several others, including Coca Cola Kwanza, Iringa Food and Beverage and Anjari of Tanga Region are in the line.
Parliamentary Industry, Trade and Environment Committee has issued a directive to the government to fast-track clearance of stalled industrial sugar at the Dar es Salaam Port, to avert a looming crisis of shutting down factories.
“We have demanded clarification and immediate intervention from the government, because some of the soft drink producers will stop production this week. I’m told Sayona Dar es Salaam has already shut down production and several others were in the line ... we need a quick solution to this problem because the factories provide employment to hundreds of our people,” the Committee Chairman, Sadick Murad said.
Responding to a concern contained in the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) report, Mr. Murad, said his committee has ordered three ministries - Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment; Ministry of Agriculture and of Finance and Planning to provide a quick solutionto the problem by today.
Briefing journalists after a heated debate, Mr Murad said CTI Chairman, Dr Samwel Nyantahe raised a red flag on the critical shortage of industrial sugar in the market, because the manufacturers have failed to get permits to clear consignments of refined industrial sugar currently stalled at the Dar es Salaam Port.
Comments
Post a Comment