VP stresses empowering start-ups for reforms
VICE-PRESIDENT Philip Mpango has told owners of private companies and institutions to support and motivate the country’s business start-ups to widen the scope of the private sector which serves as a catalyst for the national development and economic growth.
Dr Mpango mentioned that one of the ways to support the start-ups in the country is through sharing experiences with them.
Dr Mpango made the statement on Friday evening when gracing the event to mark the 2022 Private Sector Day in Dar es Salaam.
“The government is determined to work with the private sector in carrying out various projects such as road construction, irrigation schemes and energy,” the VP stated.
“The Ministry of Finance and Planning in collaboration with Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) have to sit together and look at means for enhancing participation of the private sector in joint venture projects,” Dr Mpango said.
Dr Mpango noted that the private sector is yet to perform well in taking advantage of the resources offered by development partners for protecting environment such as carbon trade.
Carbon trading is a market-based system that aims to provide economic incentives to encourage organisations to reduce their environmental footprint.
He urged all stakeholders under the TPSF to cooperate with the Office of the Vice President (Environment), Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, and all offices through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation to fully exploit opportunities availed by the environmental entities in protecting environment through various initiatives.
He said environmental protection initiatives that can fully be exploited include production of renewable energy, solid waste treatment plant and other related projects.
In particular, the VP instructed the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade to speed up the implementation of the blueprint for the national business environment by ensuring that it implements all activities suggested in the document by 50 per cent come December 2023 from the current 3 per cent.
He instructed the ministry to take measures against institutions that hinder the execution of the Blueprint.
“The government will continue to create friendly environment for investors and businesses in the country to attract investments, promote business and private sector’s competitiveness,” he said.
According to Dr Mpango, some of the measures instituted to create friendly environment for investors and businesses include making efforts in reducing bureaucracy in the public institutions and scrapping nuisance levies.
Other measures taken by the government to improve investment, include recent move to enact the new Investment Law of 2022 which provides equal opportunities for all investors and the signing of agreements with 10 countries to address the issue of double taxation.
Meanwhile the VP censured oppression, abuse and violence at workplaces, the malpractices which demoralise workers as they feel humiliated, noting that such acts were related to age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability and religion.
Dr Mpango spoke of the malpractices when officiating the Employer of the Year Award (EYA) 2022 organised by the Tanzania Employers Association (ATE) in Dar es Salaam where NMB Plc emerged as best employer.
“Every employee has the right to be treated with dignity, to be valued and respected at work place ….I urge employers to install the systems that will enable employees to volunteer information on harassment and oppression without fearing any possible consequences including losing their jobs,” he said.
Earlier welcoming the VP to give the keynote speech, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability), Prof Joyce Ndalichako, directed the private sector employers to observe the minimum wage increment directives that are required to be implemented with effect from next month.
