METL Group entered the manufacturing field in late 1990’s with a view to process locally available raw materials like cotton, maize, rice, edible oils, sisal etc and to strengthen the manufacturing of processed products within the country together with agriculture. The strategic vertical integration programme was designed to complement METL’s core trading business and wide range of products from beverages to bicycles. The company’s ethos within the sector is to produce quality products that are affordable and meet the needs of 35 million Tanzanians. Major projects in the pipeline include the development of a large edible oil refinery and storage facility in Dar es Salaam (see page 28) and development of a complete supply chain for textiles, including cotton farming, ginning and expansion of capacities in the spinning, weaving and processing sections.