The Minister of Industry and Trade, Dr. Selemani Jafo, has called on industry stakeholders, particularly factory owners, to cooperate in the upcoming Census of Industrial Production of 2025, based on the 2023 reference year.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam to factory owners from the Dar es Salaam and Pwani regions, Dr. Jafo emphasized that the census will provide critical insights into the number of industries and the types of products manufactured in the country. This information will help establish strong policy, regulatory, and legal frameworks.
“My fellow industrialists, this census is crucial for understanding the current state of our country’s industries. I urge you to support the process by welcoming the data collectors and providing them with the necessary information,” said Dr. Jafo.
Tanzania conducted the last Census of Industrial Production in 2013, but the exercise faced challenges, including restricted access to some factories, refusal to disclose audited financial data, delays in filling out questionnaires, and instances of providing inaccurate information.
Dr. Jafo stressed that the key objective is to assess industrial production and the number of factories to support policy decisions that will foster development and protect local industries.
Meanwhile, the Chief Statistician of the Government, Dr. Amina Msengwa, highlighted significant changes in the industrial sector over the past decade, necessitating the 2023 reference-year census to evaluate progress.
Dr. Msengwa assured factory owners that all research ethics and standards will be adhered to, especially regarding the confidentiality of collected data, which will be used exclusively for statistical purposes.
“I want to assure factory owners that, according to the Statistics Act, all information collected during the census and statistical surveys is strictly confidential and used only for statistical purposes. Enumerators are required to take an oath to uphold this confidentiality, and any breach of this obligation carries legal penalties, including fines and imprisonment,” said Dr. Msengwa.
She further emphasized that data collection is a collective effort, not solely the responsibility of the National Bureau of Statistics. It requires collaboration from various stakeholders, including government officials and the general public, who provide critical information for censuses and surveys.
