By
Damas Makangale, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
The
government of Tanzania has hailed for its efforts on creating a conducive environment
for investment as Belgians business community eyeing to invest in energy,
sisal, transport and infrastructure sectors to give a boost to the country’s
economy.
Speaking
to the East African Business week at the Kings Function day held last week at
the Ambassador Residence in Dar es Salaam, Belgian Ambassador to Tanzania, Paul
Cartier said that the government has to create a conducive environment for
sustainable investment development.
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| On left,Belgian Ambassador to Tanzania, Paul Cartier |
“Nearly
42 business people are here in Tanzania for business and trade talks that will lead
to the sustainable investments to the two countries, but I would like to call
upon the government to reduce multiple taxes as a way to encourage Foreign
Direct Investment (FDI),” He said.
Ambassador
Cartier told the EABW that the bilateral and economic ties between the two countries
will continue for the betterment of the people as his government will continue
to support Tanzania in various areas as a path for social and economic
development.
He
said that at present, Belgian Development Cooperation is active in the domains
of natural resource management, local government, agriculture, water and
sanitation.
However,
he noted that the efforts made over the next few years will concentrate on a
limited number of sectors because one assessment concluded that the scope of
Belgian cooperation was too wide.
Ambassador
Cartier
underscored that for example that Belgium was spreading its resources too
thinly over too many sectors and the geographical dispersion of projects also
made it difficult to adopt a consistent approach.
Moreover,
the development programme concluded between Belgium and Tanzania in late 2009
is focused on two sectors: reforming local authorities and managing natural
resources.
The
budget for 2010-2013 stands at €60 million. Cross-cutting issues include
gender, the environment and the rights of the child.
Tanzania
is one of the poorest countries in the world. Most Tanzanians still depend on
subsistence farming to survive.
Belgium
is providing financial and technical assistance to the Tanzanian Local
Government Reform Programme, which was set up to strengthen local authorities
and transform them into effective instruments of social and economic
development.
The
programme involves devolving government responsibilities and financial
resources to the local level to give district councils more autonomy to set
their own priorities and implement their own development plans.
Under
the new system, local government administrations will be responsible for
meeting local needs and be held accountable by local councils. In other words,
local governments are becoming the driving force behind development.
Natural
resources are key to long-term economic development and poverty reduction in
general. Many communities in Tanzania depend on natural resources because they
live off fishing, farming, hunting, keeping livestock or forestry.
Accordingly,
Belgium is supporting those Tanzanian initiatives in which environmental
conservation and economic development go hand in hand.
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