Biteko: Govt to put more weight in support of private sector

TANZANIA: DEPUTY Prime Minister, Dr Doto Biteko, who is also the Minister for Energy, has said the government was pleased with the private sector’s growth in country, especially being an engine facilitating economic advancement and jobs’ creation.

He said the sector provides goods and services, generates tax revenues to finance essential social and economic infrastructure and as well develops new and innovative solutions that help tackle development challenges.

“The private sector has become an important strategic partner for the government in achieving its vision particularly to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities and exclusion within broader sustainable development,” he said.

Elaborating, he hailed President Samia Suluhu Hassan as distinct and nation’s guardian in promoting a conducive environment, where the private sector is flourishing.

He added: “In fact…the president does not want to see businesspeople experiencing hiccups during the implementation of their duties that is why she is always pushing executives to extend a helping hand to propel the sector’s growth.”

Likewise, Dr Biteko noted that leaders should make sure that the president’s goodwill towards businesspeople is put in practise in order to realise her vision of developing the private sector that will increase the nation’s income.

The Deputy Premier made the statement in Dodoma over the weekend, during the opening of the Rafiki Dodoma Hotel New Wing, which was witnessed by a number of dignitaries, including Minister for Education, Science and Technology Professor Adolf Mkenda.

In a related development, Dr Biteko has instructed the government executives to make sure that they support the private sector to fulfil their local obligations.

“If you are a TANESCO (Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited) officer tasked with connecting electricity to someone’s business, there is no need for you to advise him or her to come back the following day, when the work could be finished on the same day,” he pointed out. According to him, bureaucrat executives should feel ashamed over delaying initiatives that are geared towards advancing the country’s economy.

Regarding the tourism business, he stated that there is still much work to be done in the hospitality industry, because lack of classic hotels for both domestic and foreign tourists is still experienced in the market.

He commended the owner of the newly launched hotel and other investors for taking initiative of boosting the tourism sector in the country.

In line with that, he also lauded the hotel management for putting the clean energy cooking concept into practice, by installing the necessary infrastructure within the establishment and urging people to refrain from cutting down trees for charcoal and firewood.

In addition, Dr Biteko stressed the significance of the government’s ministries and institutions utilising investment infrastructure in Dodoma City, which is the country’s capital. For his part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and owner of Rafiki Dodoma Hotel Fladmiry Mallya expressed gratitude to the government for improving the investment climate, which encourages Tanzanians to make more investments and thereby, boosts employment opportunities.