Govt tasks business officers with driving Vision 2050

DODOMA: THE government has directed business officers nationwide to regularly update databases on industries, businesses, markets and investment opportunities to provide accurate information for planning and attracting investors.

Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade Denis Londo issued the directive on Monday in Dodoma on behalf of the Minister when opening the Third Ministry-Business Officers Meeting, attended by officers from all 26 regions and councils.

Mr Londo said every council should maintain reliable and verifiable information on business licences, investors, industrial areas, raw materials, infrastructure, markets and investment opportunities.

“Every council must prepare and regularly update its investment profile. It is the responsibility of every council to provide information on existing investment activities, opportunities, raw materials, infrastructure, markets and investment areas,” he said.

He said business officers should actively identify and promote investment opportunities to investors and financial institutions to stimulate production, value addition and job creation.

Mr Londo said some potential investors had not been reached because they were unaware of opportunities available in different areas.

He also directed councils to develop areas designated for industries, businesses and entrepreneurs, saying the government had restored five per cent of councils’ own-source revenues for development projects.

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More than 72bn/- is expected to be generated under the arrangement, with the funds expected to support infrastructure for markets, businesses and entrepreneurship.

“It is important that we now plan properly to ensure the funds become a seed for infrastructure development that will support business, investment and production activities,” he said.

Mr Londo urged councils to involve land, urban planning and road infrastructure experts in project planning to ensure investments create maximum economic impact.

He also called for accelerated formalisation of informal businesses, saying registration would enable entrepreneurs to access advisory services, finance and markets.

“One of your achievements should be taking an ordinary Tanzanian with an informal business and bringing them into a system that can give them access to empowerment, advice, capital and markets,” he said.

He further said business, industry and investment officers carried about 70 per cent of the responsibility for implementing Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050, given their central role in driving private-sector growth, industrialisation and value addition.

“There can be no successful implementation of our Development Vision 2050 without you as business, industry and investment officers. You carry the economy of our country,” he said.

He urged the officers to work with confidence and determination, saying they had a historic opportunity to lay the foundation for the country’s economic transformation over the next 25 years.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ambassador Waziri Salum, urged business officers to work with integrity, honesty and professionalism, while intensifying the fight against counterfeit goods.

“You are the key people responsible for dealing with counterfeit products in your areas. I urge you to go and fight and control counterfeit goods,” he said.

Meanwhile, BRELA Chief Executive Officer Godfrey Nyaisa said the agency would train all business officers during the 2026/27 financial year through four zones to strengthen their capacity in business registration, licensing, digital systems and enforcement of laws.

He said BRELA would also improve integration of digital systems to facilitate information sharing, business registration and issuance of licences.

Mr Nyaisa described business officers as investment agents whose role was to facilitate rather than frustrate businesses.

“Business officers are agents of investment in this country. Your responsibility is to facilitate business, not frustrate it,” he said.

The two-day meeting is being held under the theme: “Champion Business Officer: Promoting Business, Industries and Markets towards Vision 2050.”