Johansein Rutaihwa is an economist with 17 years of solid national, regional, and international experience in trade, investment, business development, SME development, private sector development, resource mobilisation, industrial development, mining, value chain analysis, strategy formulation, and project management. He has hands-on experience working with National Governments, Regional andInternational Organisations, and rural and industry/business communities. Johansein has consulted for various international organisations and extensively published research in these fields.

He is an outstanding team player, facilitator, communicator and natural leader. His ability to blend qualitative and quantitative analysis has assisted him in delivering high-quality outputs focused on addressing coreissuesimpacting trade, industrialisation, and development. He hasavast networkinAfrica and the world. He also has hands-on trade negotiation skills as he is involved in AfCFTA and COMESA- SADC-EACTripartitenegotiations. Johansein hasextensively participatedinvarious assignments; drafting of the AU commodity strategy, AU SMEs strategy, implementation of AUmining vision,Youth Think Tank in NEPAD, Ignite and budgeting with youth lens projects; Tanzania-EU General Budget Support (GBS) Annual review 2012; review and preparation of the National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of PovertyII (NSGRP II)/ MKUKUTA II for thesectors of industry, trade andmarketing; Joint Evaluation of ECbudget Support to Tanzania 2006-2011; Review of the National Trade Policy 2003; Review of National Mineral policy 2003; Draft of National Gas and Oil Policy 2012; Preparation of Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 for Tanzania; Developed the Ministry of Industry and Trade's strategic plan for the year 2011/2012-2015/2016; Preparation of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment's M&E framework; Operational plans and budgets; and drafting of sectoral cabinet papers.