UK funding will help Sproxil enter Tanzanian market

Sproxil has been given funding from the UK government to help roll out its text message-based anti-counterfeiting technology in Tanzania.

The UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Human Development Innovation Fund (HDIF) - backed by the UK government - is providing funding "to help expand Sproxil's business into Tanzania and to educate consumers about the health risks associated with counterfeit products," according to the company.

The HDIF is a five-year project that launched last year with backing of £30m and a remit to improve education, health and water, sanitation and hygiene in Tanzania.

Sproxil's Mobile Product Authentication (MPA) platform is a free service that safeguards consumers by giving them the tools to differentiate between fake and genuine products through the use of a mobile phone. It has already been applied across multiple industrial sectors, including pharmaceuticals, consumer packaged goods, electrical cabling, automotive parts and home goods.

"We are grateful to HDIF for recognising the value and importance of Sproxil's efforts to protect consumers from the dangers of counterfeit products," states Danielle Goldschneider, Sproxil's strategic partnerships manager.

"We believe our services will make a significant impact on decreasing the amount of dangerous counterfeit products, specifically healthcare products, which continue to infiltrate the market in Tanzania."