nngu007
JF-Expert Member
- Aug 2, 2010
- 15,860
- 5,803
Dar es Salaam. In what appears to be a new engagement strategy, Japan yesterday announced an ambitious investment initiative aimed at turning Tanzania into a trade and industrial development hub in Africa further down the road.
As Japan's "strategic partner", Tanzania is poised to benefit from construction of infrastructure and heavy investment in industries that will see Japanese internationally acclaimed brands manufactured in the country.
The plan was unveiled in the city yesterday by Japan's minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr Toshimitsu Motegi, during talks with President Jakaya Kikwete at State House.
According to a statement released by the Directorate of Presidential Communication at State House, Mr Motegi's visit and sweet-sounding announcement comes as a result of President Kikwete's visit to Japan in June, in which he held talks with his host, Prime Minister Mr Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo.
During the Tokyo talks, Kikwete reportedly asked Abe to consider investing in Africa which is a growing market for Japanese products which span from motor vehicles to electronics devices.
As Premier Abe's emissary, Mr Motegi informed President Kikwete that his country had chosen Tanzania as key partner, not only in East Africa, but also in the entire continent and was determined to make the East African member state a success story.
Mr Motegi announced that to start with, Japan will revamp the central railway line by replacing the German-colonial-era narrow rails with modern standard railroads that will boost business within the country and between Tanzania and landlocked countries such as Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi which depend on the port of Dar es Salaam. Japanese experts should be expected in the country soon for feasibility study on the rail project, he promised.
The Foreign minister, who was flanked by an army of Japanese businessmen and women, also promised that the revamping of the central railway line that goes to lake-Tanganyika town of Kigoma on one branch and the Lake Victoria city of Mwanza on the other, will go hand in hand with yet another expansion project at the port of Dar es Salaam.
Mr Motegi told President Kikwete that two Japanese giant firms, Honda and Panasonic, had agreed to set up manufacturing plants in Tanzania. "Mr President, this is just the beginning because, as I said, we want to do more and make Tanzania the best practice in Japan's foreign investment in this part of the world which, in turn will create lots of jobs for Tanzanians," he said.
According to Mr Motegi, after motorcycle and electronics factories, the next sector that should expect a shot in the arm from Japanese investors is agriculture, especially cotton which he said will be followed naturally by yet another heavy investment in textile.
The meeting was also attended by the minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office charged with Investment and Empowerment affairs, Ms Mary Nagu, minister for Industry and Trade, Dr Abdallah Kigoda, and minister for Transport, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe.
As Japan's "strategic partner", Tanzania is poised to benefit from construction of infrastructure and heavy investment in industries that will see Japanese internationally acclaimed brands manufactured in the country.
The plan was unveiled in the city yesterday by Japan's minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr Toshimitsu Motegi, during talks with President Jakaya Kikwete at State House.
According to a statement released by the Directorate of Presidential Communication at State House, Mr Motegi's visit and sweet-sounding announcement comes as a result of President Kikwete's visit to Japan in June, in which he held talks with his host, Prime Minister Mr Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo.
During the Tokyo talks, Kikwete reportedly asked Abe to consider investing in Africa which is a growing market for Japanese products which span from motor vehicles to electronics devices.
As Premier Abe's emissary, Mr Motegi informed President Kikwete that his country had chosen Tanzania as key partner, not only in East Africa, but also in the entire continent and was determined to make the East African member state a success story.
Mr Motegi announced that to start with, Japan will revamp the central railway line by replacing the German-colonial-era narrow rails with modern standard railroads that will boost business within the country and between Tanzania and landlocked countries such as Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi which depend on the port of Dar es Salaam. Japanese experts should be expected in the country soon for feasibility study on the rail project, he promised.
The Foreign minister, who was flanked by an army of Japanese businessmen and women, also promised that the revamping of the central railway line that goes to lake-Tanganyika town of Kigoma on one branch and the Lake Victoria city of Mwanza on the other, will go hand in hand with yet another expansion project at the port of Dar es Salaam.
Mr Motegi told President Kikwete that two Japanese giant firms, Honda and Panasonic, had agreed to set up manufacturing plants in Tanzania. "Mr President, this is just the beginning because, as I said, we want to do more and make Tanzania the best practice in Japan's foreign investment in this part of the world which, in turn will create lots of jobs for Tanzanians," he said.
According to Mr Motegi, after motorcycle and electronics factories, the next sector that should expect a shot in the arm from Japanese investors is agriculture, especially cotton which he said will be followed naturally by yet another heavy investment in textile.
The meeting was also attended by the minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office charged with Investment and Empowerment affairs, Ms Mary Nagu, minister for Industry and Trade, Dr Abdallah Kigoda, and minister for Transport, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe.
