Tanzania tops the East African Community (EAC) region in attracting more Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), with about 2.9 billion US Dollars (about 6,7tr/-) flowing into the country between March and August, this year.
Prime Minister, Mr. Kassim Majaliwa disclosed this while officiating at the Tanzania-United Kingdom Business and Investment Forum at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam, yesterday.
Mr. Majaliwa called upon responsible authorities from Tanzania and the UK to work on existing trade barriers to ease trade activities and service delivery among the two parties without contravening any principles of fruitful competition. The meeting is geared towards embarking on joint strategies aimed at reducing trade imbalance by further boosting the country's exports to the UK.
Statistics show that in the year 2021, Tanzania sold goods to the UK worth 90bn/-, while the UK traded to Tanzania goods worth 450bn/-. According to the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC), the United Kingdom is the second largest investor in the country with approximately 945 projects worth 5,42 billion US Dollars (about 12,5tri/-) and provides jobs to 275,384 Tanzanians.
These include the expansion project at Kilombero Sugar amounting to 238 million US Dollars. "Tanzania is committed to further improve existing diplomatic relations to strengthen investment and the country's economic growth. The government is willing and ready to collaborate with you to further strengthen trade and investment activities within the country," said Mr. Majaliwa.
He revealed that Tanzania has continued to improve its relations with other nations including the UK as part of its strategy to boost the country's economy. In doing so, the PM outlined several initiatives which have been taken by the government including strengthening supervision in its free trade market policies and its monetary policies whose goal is to improve trade and investment of the country.
The Premier noted that, despite the effects of COVID-19, in the year 2020, Tanzania received an investment amounting to one billion US Dollars. Such development is attributed to the various efforts which have been taken by the government to improve the country's investment environment. Elaborating on trade relations between Tanzania and the UK, the PM said the European nation has been Tanzania's noble business partner from way back.
"The economy of Tanzania has continued to experience an average of 6,5 percent growth from 2016 to 2020 making the country among the fastest growing economies within the African continent," noted the PM. Mr. Majaliwa extended appreciation to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Special Envoy responsible for Trade Lord Walney for promoting Tanzania as a right place for companies coming from the UK to trade and invest. On his part, Mr. Walney observed that the UK will continue to be Tanzania's noble development partner, pledging to further back the initiatives being taken by the government to promote trade and investment.
Minister for Industry and Trade, Prof. Kitila Mkumbo, said the meeting is of major benefit for the business community in Tanzania as it aims to boost Tanzania's exports rate to the UK to have an equal balance of trade. Similarly, the Minister for Investment, Mr. Geoffrey Mwambe, revealed that the forum is intended to acquire feedback from UK investors with regard to the situation on ease of doing business as well as make improvements and come out with agreed resolutions to further boost the economy and an equal balance of trade between the two countries.
Mr. Mwambe pledged to convene similar platforms for the private sector and its partner countries in creating a conducive environment by acquiring views and challenges facing investors.