Tanzania’s unmatched geopolitical status potential to become regional hub of trade, commerce
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been applauded for her initiatives of opening up the country to the outside world in terms of economic and political issues, among others.
Speaking in an exclusive interview in Dar es Salaam, Associate Professor of Development Economics at the University of Dar es Salaam, Professor Abel who also deals with international trade said “It is good we are opening up a country-it is a good thing.”
He said that Tanzania is making great strides in attracting new investors from Europe and elsewhere.
During her recent visit to Norway, President Hassan has invited investors from Norway to consider Tanzania as a regional hub to trade and commerce, underscoring the country’ democratic framework and commitment to principles of good governance, human rights and the rule of law.
However, commenting President’s call to the Norwegian investors, Professor Kinyondo said “We Tanzania supposed to become a regional hub even without asking the Norwegians because of our geo-political advantage.”
He mentioned some of the advantages if are well utilized would make Tanzania a regional hub to trade and commerce as: “We are surrounded by landlocked countries, like Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Congo, Malawi, and Zambia.”
Prof. Kinyondo further noted “It should be by default we have to be a regional hub-what we need to do is to ensure our roads infrastructure are good and passable, and the corruption among government officials and other actors is totally arrested.”
He said that there are business people in Zambia doing business very close to the Tanzania-Zambia border but they prefer passing their goods through Durban Port in South Africa to Dar Port because of corruption among some officials.
Prof. Kinyondo has suggested that in order to become a regional hub in trade and commerce, they should ensure there is efficiency in clearing cargoes at the Dar Port and efficiency in logistical transportation.
“If we make sure these things are available, then we would automatically become a regional hub.”
He noted that our geopolitical advantage is that politically we are the most stable in the region and surrounded by landlocked countries.
“These are the advantages which we were naturally given by God. We need to take advantage of them; we don’t need anybody from outside.”
According to him there are various studies that have indicated that if Dar Port becomes efficient by getting rid of delays which are basically caused by corruption, all these landlocked countries will come here.
He is sure that even Mozambique can choose to use the Dar Port because of the instability in some parts of the country.
Kinyondo even Nairobi would prefer Dar es Salaam Port to Mombasa Port because Arusha is closer than Mombasa. “Business people are looking for certainty and timely delivery of their cargoes.”
We as a country by the very default we are supposed to be a regional hub. We are spoiling ourselves, nobody from outside.
It is the matter of deciding “Enough is enough, let us work seriously, efficiently and employ skilled and capable people to perform these jobs.”
Citing an example from Singapore, he said that, 50 years ago that small country economically it was like Tanzania. But today Singapore whose size is like of region of Tanzania, is a global leading in shipping cargoes.
They have managed to become so, because they refuse corruption, they embraced meritocracy, they were able to implement their plans, and people in that country have patriotism of fighting for their country.
So, “If we want to reach at the level Singapore is, the government needs to change its systems, embrace meritocracy and say no to corruption,” he noted.
Ends.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been applauded for her initiatives of opening up the country to the outside world in terms of economic and political issues, among others.
Speaking in an exclusive interview in Dar es Salaam, Associate Professor of Development Economics at the University of Dar es Salaam, Professor Abel who also deals with international trade said “It is good we are opening up a country-it is a good thing.”
He said that Tanzania is making great strides in attracting new investors from Europe and elsewhere.
During her recent visit to Norway, President Hassan has invited investors from Norway to consider Tanzania as a regional hub to trade and commerce, underscoring the country’ democratic framework and commitment to principles of good governance, human rights and the rule of law.
However, commenting President’s call to the Norwegian investors, Professor Kinyondo said “We Tanzania supposed to become a regional hub even without asking the Norwegians because of our geo-political advantage.”
He mentioned some of the advantages if are well utilized would make Tanzania a regional hub to trade and commerce as: “We are surrounded by landlocked countries, like Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Congo, Malawi, and Zambia.”
Prof. Kinyondo further noted “It should be by default we have to be a regional hub-what we need to do is to ensure our roads infrastructure are good and passable, and the corruption among government officials and other actors is totally arrested.”
He said that there are business people in Zambia doing business very close to the Tanzania-Zambia border but they prefer passing their goods through Durban Port in South Africa to Dar Port because of corruption among some officials.
Prof. Kinyondo has suggested that in order to become a regional hub in trade and commerce, they should ensure there is efficiency in clearing cargoes at the Dar Port and efficiency in logistical transportation.
“If we make sure these things are available, then we would automatically become a regional hub.”
He noted that our geopolitical advantage is that politically we are the most stable in the region and surrounded by landlocked countries.
“These are the advantages which we were naturally given by God. We need to take advantage of them; we don’t need anybody from outside.”
According to him there are various studies that have indicated that if Dar Port becomes efficient by getting rid of delays which are basically caused by corruption, all these landlocked countries will come here.
He is sure that even Mozambique can choose to use the Dar Port because of the instability in some parts of the country.
Kinyondo even Nairobi would prefer Dar es Salaam Port to Mombasa Port because Arusha is closer than Mombasa. “Business people are looking for certainty and timely delivery of their cargoes.”
We as a country by the very default we are supposed to be a regional hub. We are spoiling ourselves, nobody from outside.
It is the matter of deciding “Enough is enough, let us work seriously, efficiently and employ skilled and capable people to perform these jobs.”
Citing an example from Singapore, he said that, 50 years ago that small country economically it was like Tanzania. But today Singapore whose size is like of region of Tanzania, is a global leading in shipping cargoes.
They have managed to become so, because they refuse corruption, they embraced meritocracy, they were able to implement their plans, and people in that country have patriotism of fighting for their country.
So, “If we want to reach at the level Singapore is, the government needs to change its systems, embrace meritocracy and say no to corruption,” he noted.
Ends.
