Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Mr Januarius Mrema,
Mr Elly Majale, Executive Director of East Africa Business Council,
Mr Mariot Kalanje, Executive Director of the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture,
Mr Per Tistad, Vice President and Mr Richard Olsson, Senior Advoser of the International Council of Swedish Industry,
Distinguished invitees
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is a pleasure and an honour for me to address this gathering and open today's GATEWAY EAST AFRICA seminar “BUSINESS IN TANZANIA” , hosted jointly by the East Africa Business Council, the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and the International Council of Swedish Industry, NIR. In January 2001, some of you were in this very room at the first NIR business promotion in East Africa - one of the biggest Private Sector Manifestations undertaken by Swedish industries in Sub Saharan Africa.. Representatives of 80 Swedish companies made their way to Tanzania. This confirms the fact that there is a considerable interest in Sweden and amongst Swedish companies and investors for the Tanzanian market.
Of course, such manifestation called for follow-up and that is what we witness today. Representatives of the Tanzanian and the Swedish business communities have gathered again to explore ways of energizing and intensifying the promising business ties between Sweden and Tanzania. NIR has been commissioned by the Swedish government to work for this task on a more long term basis. A cooperation agreement has been signed with East African Business Council, and we are eagerly awaiting the results of this collaboration. We all have the same objective; increased trade – both export and import - between East Africa and Sweden, and more foreign direct investments in Tanzania and other EAC Countries.
I am delighted to see our guests from Sweden coming all the way from Scandinavia to meet with their Tanzanian counterparts. To the Representatives of Swedish industry I would like to highlight some issues that may be of particular interest for those considering doing business in and with Tanzania: Tanzania is a rich country richly endowed with natural resources but a large part of its population is poor. Tanzania has enjoyed and enjoys peace and stability and is seen as a stabilizing factor in the region Tanzania, Kenya & Uganda have recently agreed on establishing a Customs Union which will turn EAC into a single market Tanzania has continued its commendable reform process and paved the way for macro economic stability, a liberalized market economy and continued economic development with the Privet Sector as the engine of growth Foreign Direct Investments are encouraged and systems are in place to assist investors (Export Processing Zones, Tanzania Investment Centre, etc). Considerable improvements in Communication that is the Road Network, Telecommunication, Ports Income Tax Laws are being revised with the aim of making them easier to apply. The Private Sector has been consulted in the process. Tanzania is included in EU’s “Everything But Arms” and the US’s AGOA trade programmes Tanzania has developed a Trade Policy to promote and facilitate exports. Everything is not perfect but the ambition to create a positive investment climate has been clearly manifested by the Government.
To the Tanzanian participants, I wish to stress Sweden's very keen interest in working with Tanzanian authorities and businesses to further strengthen the commercial relations between our two countries. The Swedish Companies represented here today possess considerable competence and experience in fields relevant for Tanzania. Sweden and Tanzania have enjoyed close and excellent relations since independence. Tanzania knows Sweden and Swedish companies and Sweden knows Tanzania and a solid foundation of trust has been built. This provides an excellent basis upon which new business relations can be established.
I have learnt that Tanzanian exports to Sweden have increased considerably and so has Swedish export to Tanzania over the last year. This is very encouraging. Tanzania's current diversification of its exports, towards non-traditional and manufactured products, is good news for Swedish business. Your mining industry, your handicraft, your expanding tourist industry, your organically produced fruits and vegetables and your horticulture production are all attractive to Swedish businesses and consumers. I hope this seminar will sort out any obstacles to a considerably expanded trade between Tanzania and Sweden. We believe, as you do, that in the long run trade is better than aid. The Swedish Government puts increased emphasis on expanding our commercial relations. The Swedish Embassy in DSM is therefore gradually building capacity to assist the business community in Sweden and in Tanzania. Together with the Nordic Embassies in Dar es Salaam, we are assisting in setting up a Nordic Business Network in Tanzania that can assist Nordic companies in Tanzania and also provide valuable advice and input in our dialogue with the Tanzanian Government on trade and investment related issues.
So, please explore today's opportunities. The Swedish Embassy will do what it can to assist you, should you need further advice and assistance.
With these words I declare this seminar on Business in Tanzania officially opened.
Thank you!