Tanzania's Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade, Patrobas Paschal Katambi, says the country needs to fight for its factories with research and brains, not weapons. He made these comments during a visit to the Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organisation, or TIRDO, in Dar es Salaam. Katambi framed the agency as a key defensive shield for the national economy, helping the country stand up to global tech and economic pressure. He specifically praised projects like food preservation for mangoes and fish, plus work by a local automaker called KP Motors, led by Masudi Kipanya.
The minister pointed to the team of doctors and professors at TIRDO as the real force behind this push. He argued that failed research isn't about a bad study, but about good findings that nobody ever uses. Katambi stressed that applied science is vital for battling economic spies and foreign competition, stating that political will and clear policy have to come first for industrial growth. He described current economic rivalry as a new kind of war where innovation and intelligence are the primary defenses.
He directly connected TIRDO's work to shaping national policy and hitting industrialization targets. The goal, according to the minister, is to create lasting industries, train local workers, and make sure new inventions actually help the economy. His tour highlighted a government focus, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, on using science as a main tool for development and security, with TIRDO acting as a central policy engine.
The minister pointed to the team of doctors and professors at TIRDO as the real force behind this push. He argued that failed research isn't about a bad study, but about good findings that nobody ever uses. Katambi stressed that applied science is vital for battling economic spies and foreign competition, stating that political will and clear policy have to come first for industrial growth. He described current economic rivalry as a new kind of war where innovation and intelligence are the primary defenses.
He directly connected TIRDO's work to shaping national policy and hitting industrialization targets. The goal, according to the minister, is to create lasting industries, train local workers, and make sure new inventions actually help the economy. His tour highlighted a government focus, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, on using science as a main tool for development and security, with TIRDO acting as a central policy engine.
