By. Fadhili Abdallah, RUJAT Kigoma
More than 500 traders and entrepreneurs from across the Great Lakes region are expected to participate in the Lake Tanganyika International Expo 2026, scheduled to take place in Kigoma Region, western Tanzania, from September 16 to 22.
The exhibition is part of government efforts to strengthen Kigoma’s position as a strategic Centre for trade, investment, and economic activity in the Great Lakes region, according to Kigoma Regional Commissioner Ambassador Simon Sirro.
Speaking to journalists, Ambassador Sirro said the expo would provide traders from Kigoma and other parts of Tanzania with an opportunity to showcase their products, explore new markets and connect with businesses from neighboring countries.
He said the event would also facilitate the exchange of technology, business knowledge and experience, while helping entrepreneurs establish networks that could promote cross-border trade.
According to Sirro, government institutions will use the exhibition to showcase production technologies, promote good business practices and encourage compliance with quality standards.
The expo is also expected to benefit small-scale traders and entrepreneurs by helping them identify new market opportunities and develop partnerships with businesses from other countries.
“The exhibition will take place from September 16 to 22 this year at the Community Centre grounds. We expect the Minister for Industry and Trade, Judith Kapinga, to open the exhibition officially on September 18. The regional government is also prepared to ensure security throughout the exhibition,” Sirro said.
Strong response from regional traders
Participation appears to be exceeding initial expectations.
Prosper Guga, is the Manager of the Tanzania National Chamber of Commerce (TNCC) in Kigoma, said the chamber had initially targeted about 500 participants, but interest from traders had already surpassed that figure.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Chamber of Commerce, for example, has confirmed the participation of about 200 traders, including miners from different provinces. This is significantly higher than the initial allocation of 50 participants from the DRC.
Guga said factory and business owners from Burundi had also confirmed their participation, with some expressing interest in exploring investment opportunities in Kigoma Region.
Traders and businesses from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda and Zambia are expected to participate alongside Tanzanian businesses.
The participation of businesses from these neighboring countries is expected to strengthen the expo’s role as a platform for regional trade and investment, particularly given Kigoma’s strategic location on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Focus on local entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, Moshi Ndimuligo, a Trade Officer in the Kigoma Regional Commissioner’s Office, said preparations were underway to ensure that traders and entrepreneurs from different parts of Tanzania, particularly small-scale businesses from Kigoma, benefit from the exhibition.
He elaborated that, the authorities were working to create opportunities for local entrepreneurs to connect with larger markets and potential business partners from across the Great Lakes region.
For Kigoma’s small and medium-sized enterprises, the expo could provide an important platform to increase visibility, develop new commercial relationships and gain access to markets beyond Tanzania.
With participation expected from several countries around the Great Lakes, organizers hope the 2026 Lake Tanganyika International Expo will go beyond showcasing products and services to become a platform for strengthening regional economic integration and cross-border trade.
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