Dar Es Salaam — DAR ES SALAAM-based MM Industries Limited has invested some 1.2 million US dollars (about 1.6bn/-) in the expansion of pipes production with the view of tapping the business opportunities of the expansive industrial construction in the country.

The firm's Managing Director, Mr Imtiaz Kassam, told the 'Daily News' during the ongoing 22nd national water week exhibitions at Mwendapole grounds here over the weekend that MM Industries would be the first in East and Central Africa to manufacture construction pipes for industrial and domestic uses.

He said the investment will save the country millions of foreign currency that contractors use to import pipes, noting that the investment would instead earn the country foreign currency through exports.

"We have huge export markets in foreign countries like Zimbabwe and Democratic Republic of Congo where demand is increasing," Mr Kassam said.

The company has started manufacturing HBP pipes of sizes ranging from half an inch to 14 inches and PVC pipes of between three quarters of an inch to16 inches.

Mr Kassam said that the manufacturer envisages meeting the demand of local and foreign contractors for high quality and durable products, adding that the company was employing mostly Tanzanians who make 95 per cent of its workforce.

Erratic power supply remains the major challenge facing the company, according to its MD.