Experts: Population growth key for strong economy

Population growth key for strong economy

THERE is strength in numbers. That’s absolutely true and experts argue that Tanzania’s population of 61.74 million is a catalyst to attract inflows of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

They (experts) also argued that the population growth provides the reliable market for the products.

The remarks were made by the Gaming Board of Tanzania (GBT) Chairman of the Board Directors, Ambassador Modest Mero, when gracing the Diplomatic symposium on the importance of sixth National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) 2022 results in implementation of the country’s economic diplomacy.

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The symposium held in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, was organised by Mozambique -Tanzania Centre for Foreign Relation (CFR).

“Investors tend to believe in population growth data, to determine the market demand for their products and services. In this regard, the recently released population results, where it shows that the country’s population has increased by 3.2 per cent since the last census held in 2012, we expect to see the influx of investors in Tanzania,” Amb Mero said.

Going forward, he said the focus should be on enhancing manufacturing industries because FDI inflows into developing countries in recent years have been mainly into manufacturing.

“Based on the population growth, it is definitely we have the labour force readily available to be absorbed by the manufacturing industries,” he said.

Expounding the relationship of the NPHC 2022 results in implementation of Tanzania economic diplomacy, Amb Mero said it will be used to justify the country’s policies and international stands, particularly where it concerns diplomacy to create communications and agreements from country to country, regionally and internationally.

Amb Mero highlighted some areas in economic diplomacy, which depends on the data from NPHC including health sector to get international cooperation and support.

“In the health sector, our diplomatic arguments at the World Health Organisation (WHO) rely heavily on accurate data on various diseases, including infectious ones, in order to obtain aid and international cooperation … a good example in Covid- 19 pandemic,” he said.

Similarly, in the agriculture sector, he said the data helps in case of food shortages and various disasters such as drought and locusts invasion, adding that to solve those challenges depends on the statistics of the affected areas and the numbers of victims by using available data.

“Data always help to understand the scope of the problem and set the right diplomatic ways to involve the international community in solving the challenges,” he said.

“Diplomatically, the population data are very helpful in understanding the growth in production and consumption of resources, to avoid disasters (sustainable production and consumption),” he said.

He added that population data are widely used in measuring national, regional and international plans, adding that one of the international programmes that rely heavily on population and housing census data is Sustainable Development Programmes (SDGs).

For his part, the Acting Director for CFR Mr Felix Wandwe commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan, for continuing bolstering the diplomacy and international relations, whilst mentioning her as an exemplary leader.

Mr Wandwe further added that CFR will continue to support the government in diplomatic matters to achieve economic diplomacy agenda.

On the other hand, a student at CFR Ms Precious Moshi encouraged Tanzanians to take advantage of the population growth to enhance productivity.

She further said some of the benefits of the population growth that should be taken as an advantage include the increase in production due to the presence of the labor force to produce products that will meet the market demands and needs.

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