Promote investment opportunities, PM tells Tanzanians in Italy

TANZANIA: PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has called on members of staff in the Tanzania’s Embassy in Italy to aggressively promote investment opportunities available in the country and help to strengthen strong bilateral relations between the two countries.

He said at a meeting with staff of Tanzanian Embassy in Rome, Italy on Tuesday that the government was making substantial policy and regulatory reforms to improve the business so as to increase foreign investment in various sectors.

“Continue working hard as well as to advertise the various opportunities available in Tanzania in various sectors including agriculture, fisheries, livestock and tourism,” said Mr Majaliwa who is in Rome to represent President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan at the four-day World Food Forum’s (WFF) Agrifood Systems.

“The country is safe. The economy continues to grow and our priority at the moment is the development of the country… The government continues to strengthen various sectors including agriculture which benefits many Tanzanians… President Samia Suluhu Hassan has instructed executives to be innovative in improving the sector, so continue with efforts to promote the country and keep working hard,” Mr Majaliwa said.

He also instructed the embassy employees to continue with Kiswahili language teaching class, as it is an important opportunity to promote the nation.

Moreover, the Prime Minister told the staff to continue identifying and connecting all Tanzanians living in Italy as well as other places that the embassy serves.

On his part, Tanzania envoy to Italy, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo thanked Mr Majaliwa for visiting the offices of the Embassy of Tanzania in Italy, adding that they have received the instructions and advice he gave and will work on them for the development of the nation.

Tanzania and Italy have continued with cooperation since the establishment of official diplomatic relations, where Tanzania opened its Embassy in Rome in 1972 and the Italian Embassy in Tanzania was officially opened in 1961.

When addressing the WFF on Monday, Mr Majaliwa said that Tanzania will strengthen relations with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and other stakeholders on addressing issues related to agro- production and blue economy for the country’s sustainable food security.

Mr Majaliwa said joint efforts with FAO and other stakeholders will contribute to increase food availability, income and create jobs, while advocating for sustainable economic development to safeguard the planet.

He said so far, the agriculture sector in Tanzania grows at an average of five per cent annually, while contributing about 26 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 24 per cent of export earnings.

Mr Majaliwa said despite the aforementioned achievements, the sector’s growth rate has fallen short of targets set by development plans, leading to the development of the Agenda 10/30 roadmap, to accelerate the implementation of the Agriculture Sector Development Programme Phase Two (ASDP II).

“The Agenda 10/30 roadmap aims to drive sustainable growth of the sector to 10 per cent by year 2030 from the current rate of five per cent by promoting private sector investments in the agriculture sector, facilitating youths and women participation in agri-business and increasing agricultural export value from the current 1.2 billion US dollars to five billion US dollars,” he said.

He said to realise the Agenda 10/30 targets, the government invests in key priority areas such as irrigation and water efficient technologies, increased access to agro inputs, improved seeds production, research and development and application of digital technology in extension services.

He said the government is further harnessing the potential of the blue economy, storage and market infrastructures and agro-processing.

Mr Majaliwa said in regard to the set priorities, the government has increased budgetary allocations for the agriculture sector from 88 million US dollars in 2020/2021 financial year to 420 million US dollars in 2023/24.