ZANZIBAR: EXIM Bank has expressed the bank’s readiness to serve local and international stakeholders in the tourism sector in alignment with the government’s efforts to accelerate growth in the industry.
Exim Bank Chief Executive Officer, Mr Jaffari Matundu made the remarks during the second ‘ZSummit, Zanzibar Tourism and Opportunities,’ graced by President Dr Hussein Mwinyi and attended by more than 600 delegates in Zanzibar, on Thursday.
“Our primary sponsorship of this summit for the second consecutive time is a clear demonstration of our commitment. Through our collaboration with ZATI, we have been able to provide financial solutions to our members. This cooperation underscores Exim Bank’s ongoing support for key sectors of the economy, particularly Zanzibar’s tourism sector,” he said.
With Exim Bank Tanzania being the main sponsor of the two-day summit organised by the Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors (ZATI), it was an occasion to lay out attractive incentives and foundations for investors to take advantage of when considering Zanzibar as an investment option. He further said that through a combination of technology and expertise, the bank offers various services that have positively impacted various tourism stakeholders, including women and youth entrepreneurs.
He added: “Our commitment to providing competitive rates in foreign exchange services ensures our customers receive quality service without obstacles. Furthermore, our efforts in providing loans to boost the capital of tourism stakeholders have led to increased productivity, benefiting not only the stakeholders but also the bank.” That comes with the background that the bank is working in partnership with the government to mobilise resources and investment in financial services, tailored to the specific needs of stakeholders in the sector for the benefit of the Isles.
On his part, Chairman of ZATI, Mr Rahim Bhaloo, mentioned that the successful event being held for the second time on the islands, as bringing together various stakeholders in the tourism sector, including service providers and users, with the objective of expanding Zanzibar’s presence in the international tourism arena.
Equally, he urged local citizens in Zanzibar to seize the various tourism opportunities available in order to benefit from the government’s ongoing investments in promoting and improving the sector.
Elaborating, the Minister for Tourism and Antiquities in Zanzibar, Mr Mudrick Ramadhan Soraga, added that the government is devoted to promoting inclusive and sustainable development in the tourism industry while supporting both small and large investors in the sector.
