While meeting Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, trade partners and other high-level officials was high on U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ list of priorities on her first day in the east African country, so too was her plan to meet the country’s progressive youth.
Amidst her tight schedule, Harris carved out some time to engage young entrepreneurs, creatives, and innovators at an event facilitated by the startup and talent incubator, SNDBX, in Dar es Salaam.
Gibson Kawago, founder of Waga Tanzania, a lithium-ion battery recycling company, was among the entrepreneurs who met with Harris, and applauded her initiative to bolster trade between the U.S. and Tanzania.
He said increase trade would create opportunities for several entrepreneurs like himself in Tanzania, particularly those registered with the Tanzania Startup Association or TSA.
“It is good that the TSA has a great connection with the USA, so like right now, different opportunities that will be coming towards Tanzania will mostly land at the TSA,” Kawago said.
He added, “the TSA knows all the innovators here. They know exactly what we do, so we are happy that our connection has been strengthened, and now we can access different opportunities.”
Kawago said he was happy to have had the chance to meet with the vice president and showcase innovations developed by Tanzanian startups.
“She was very impressed with the innovations that we have right here because we were innovators who were interconnected,” he said, adding that, “during the conversation she (Harris) found out that so many startups, this start up is working with this startup, solving different problems but interconnected.”
Lillian Madeje, founder of Niajiri Platform, a Tanzanian tech startup focused on helping graduates find employment, agrees. She said Harris appeared impressed by how the youth were using technology to empower themselves.
“One of the things that resonated with her is just what we are doing, which is more than just a CV,” said Madeje, expounding, “we do assessments and we spoke more around transferable skills.”
“She (Harris) linked it to her talks with clean energy, climate change and how hiring for that particular sector is now that they need more than just the technical skills, [they also need] to [have] the transferable skills, and that is exactly what we are working on right now,” Madeje explained.
The tech entrepreneur also said Harris’ interest in her sector demonstrated how the industry has become the fastest growing in Africa.
“This particular space 10-years ago was not as vibrant as it is right now. So, what is this telling me?” Majede asked. “Her visit and all this exposure that we are getting right now in terms of a global landscape, is the fact that there is innovative minds and youth who are doing amazing things in this side of Africa,” she concluded
Zuweina Farah, co-founder of SNDBX which hosted Harris and the young entrepreneurs, said she was particularly interested in what the vice president said about how African startups can partner with U.S. companies.
“Her (Harris) contribution in terms of how we can access, or rather the opportunities that are in place, was an eye opener for most of us,” said Farah. “Although some of the startups that we’re showcasing already have American investors, for the others who are putting their products to market, that was a good conversation to have,” she added