Design Capabilities and Potential in “The Cotton and Textiles Sector in Tanzania: Issues and Opportunities. A report for the Tanzanian Government”

This study originates from discussions between Hon Juma Ngasongwa, Minister of Planning, Economy and Empowerment and Hon Basil Mramba, Minister for Trade and Industry and Lord David Sainsbury, settlor of the Gatsby Charitable Foundation (GCF) in January 2007. In discussions held in Dar es Salaam, iIt was agreed that GCF and its associated Trust, the Tanzania Gatsby Trust (TGT), would fund an exploratory study of the cotton and textile sectors with a view to identifying issues, constraints and investment opportunities. The focus of the study would be on the long-term potential for a major increase in the output of Tanzania’s cotton and textile sector with a view to maximising its potential contribution to the generation of increased GDP, exports, farmer incomes and manufacturing employment. Terms of Reference were finalised in February. And the study is essentially a contribution to the development of strategy in the context of the ‘Mini Tiger Plan’.
This report represents the findings of a team comprising consultants from Golder Associates of South Africa, the University of Manchester in the UK and Oxford Policy Management. The individuals concerned were :
Golder Associates : Bill Berry, John Howcroft, Julian Ward, René Ford
University of Manchester (Materials and Paper Dept) : Drs Hugh Gong, Richard Kennon,
Neil Towers, Pammi Sinha, Mr. Les Downes and Mr Alan Johnson
Oxford Policy Management : Tim Ruffer
The study was co-directed by Ibrahim Seushi and Laurence Cockcroft on behalf of GCF and TGT. Organisational arrangements were carried out by TGT under the leadership of Mrs Olive Luena. TGT in cooperation with the Ministry of Trade and Industry arranged many on-site visits for which the consultancy team is very grateful. The majority of these are listed in an Annexe to this report and the team is likewise extremely appreciative of the time and interest shown by the many individuals who participated in interviews and meetings. It was particularly helpful to have two stakeholder meetings with cotton growers, ginnery owners and farmers in both Mwanza and Morogoro and the team is very grateful to the Tanzania Cotton Board and representatives of Regional Governments for arranging and participating in these meetings.
The Main Report of the study synthesises five technical reports which will be presented as Annexes to this report (see Table of Contents). It is intended to comprise a basis for discussion which will lead to an Action Plan for the sector to be further developed through a Stakeholders Forum to be held later in 2007.