Tanzania encourages diaspora to register on digital hub

NETHERLANDS: Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, January Makamba, has encouraged Tanzania’s diaspora all over the world to register on the Diaspora Digital Hub.

The initiative aims at recognizing and including them in the country’s development plans.

Mr Makamba made these remarks during a meeting with the diaspora in the Netherlands.

In March 2023, the Tanzanian Government announced it was developing a diaspora database for accurate use as part of its efforts to assist members of the diaspora in contributing to the nation’s development.

The Director of the Government Communication Unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mindi Kasiga, said during the Ministry’s monthly briefings that the information gathered will assist the government in identifying and assessing the competencies, expertise, and experience of members of the diaspora.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, the value of diaspora remittances increased by 42 percent in 2021, on top of the 400 million US dollars equivalent to 936bn/- sent by Tanzanians living abroad in 2020.

Tanzania received 569.5 million US dollars in remittances from its diaspora in 2021, up from 400 million US dollars in 2020.

The Tanzania diaspora has also invested 3.9bn/- in UTT Amis and 2.3bn/- in a project known as Hamidu City Park, which is being implemented by the National Housing Corporation (NHC) in Kigamboni, Dar es Salaam.

Tanzanians in the USA (Tanzania Diaspora Hub) plan to invest at least 400m/- in sectors related to agriculture and fishing, a decision which would see Tanga, Njombe, and Singida as the major recipient regions.