Govt recognises CEOrt’s two-decade impact

DAR ES SALAAM: THE government has acknowledged the CEO Roundtable of Tanzania (CEOrt) for its role in driving economic transformation through more than two decades of private sector engagement.

Minister of State in the President’s Office for Planning and Investment, Prof Kitila Mkumbo, said over the weekend that effective collaboration with the private sector is essential for advancing economic and social development in line with Vision 2050.

“We have several projections under Vision 2050, and significant work remains, including substantial investment in human capital, with youth representing 70 per cent of the population. “Achieving these goals requires strong partnerships between the government and the private sector,” he said.

The Minister recalled that when CEOrt was established in 2000, the country was at a critical stage in its economic transformation, having just graduated from Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) status following reforms spearheaded by President Benjamin Mkapa.

“At that time, we were just beginning to internalise the market economy model, defining the respective roles of the state and the private sector. We were also only five years into economic liberalisation,” he said.

According to the Minister, the country’s economy in the last two decades has grown from 12.37 billion US dollars to about 90 billion US dollars, while GDP per capita has increased from 453 US dollars to around 1,272 US dollars.

“If you compare those figures with where we are today, the difference is remarkable due to the achievements we have made,” he said.

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Prof Mkumbo said the government is targeting a 1.0 trillion US dollars economy in the next 25 years, a goal that can only be realised through a strong partnership between the government, public and the private sector. He revealed that initial government projections placed the size of the economy at between 500 billion US dollars and 700 billion US dollars by 2050.

“The private sector argued that with serious and sustained investment, Tanzania could achieve a 1.0 trillion US dollars economy. After discussions, we agreed to adopt that target,” he said.

The CEOrt’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms Santina Benson, said that between 2005 and 2010, the organisation strengthened its engagement by investing in leadership development and institutional capacity.

During this period, CEOrt launched initiatives such as the CEO Scholarship Fund, the Enhancing Public Service Leadership (EPSL) programme and the 3PF Task Force.

She said these efforts supported public-sector reforms, including the Police Force Reform Programme and promoted ethical leadership and anti-corruption awareness. CEOrt’s Chairman Mr David Tarimo said that CEOrt emerged at a pivotal moment in economic transformation, when the need for a trusted platform to connect senior business leaders and government decision-makers became increasingly clear.

“One of CEOrt’s earliest milestones was a high-level engagement inaugurated under the leadership of Mkapa, which helped establish the principle that development outcomes are strongest when government and the private sector engage through open, structured, and trust-based dialogue,” the chair said.

During the celebration, the launch of the CEOrt Legacy Booklet took place, and the body honoured members and institutions that contributed to its 25-year journey. Visionary Leader Awards went to the late Ali Mufuruki, Leonard Mususa, and Yogesh Maneck, while Champions Awards recognised institutions including Vodacom, Stanbic Bank and Yas Tanzania.