Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA has continued to reap dividends from its economic diplomacy as the country records an increase in export volume of different agricultural products.
The development has been achieved in line with the government efforts to improve business and investment climate, review of policies as well as strengthening of its multilateral ties with members of the international communities.
This was revealed on Saturday during an online zoom meeting organised by Watch Tanzania News Agency, to discuss the role of economic diplomacy policy on enhancing the agriculture sector in Tanzania.
Speaking during the meeting, Ambassador Jestas Nyamanga who represents Tanzania to Belgium, Luxemburg and the European Union said Tanzania has now secured an international market for rice grown in Mbeya.
“We have secured a market in Tanzania to export at least 300 tonnes of rice to Belgium every month, and already 25 tonnes have arrived, the ongoing plan is to create a reliable market for around 5,000 rice farmers from Mbeya,” he said.
According to him, for the past five years, Tanzania has been exporting highly to Belgium compared to its import, saying Belgium is a true trading partner of the East African country.
The diplomat said last year, Tanzania exported to Belgium products amounting to 131milion Euros compared to its import that was recorded at 75 million Euros.
“According to official statistics, between January and August this year, Tanzanian exports were at 70 million Euros. We have also secured a market for Tanzania’s cocoa grown in Mbeya region,” he added.
He was seconded by Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Dr John Simbachawene, who said that President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s visit to Kenya this year played a crucial role in stimulating business between the two countries.
He said the two countries have so far managed to clear 46 out of 64 trade barriers that were hindering business between the two countries.
“We are also looking forward to clearing the remaining 18 administrative issues by the end of December this year,” he noted.
According to him, trade volume between Tanzania and Kenya has improved for the past six months, whereas Kenya has imported Tanzanian goods amounting to 20.5bn/-, up from 10.8bn/-.
“While Tanzania imports from Kenya were at 17.8bn/-, up from 14bn/-, this statistics show that Tanzania benefits more from the trade between our two countries,” he said, noting that this is a success of the removal of trade barriers.
For his part, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Hussein Bashe said the government will continue to take efforts to improve productivity in agricultural products for the sake of increasing its export for the well-being of farmers and the national economy.
He said while the government is continuing to provide all the necessary facilitation, it’s crucial for stakeholders, including financial institutions to support the ongoing efforts by loaning farmers to upgrade their farming activities.
“There is no way that economic diplomacy will be separated from the agriculture sector since it’s the backbone of the country’s economy,” he said, challenging stakeholders to support President Samia’s vision of supporting the sector.
His views were in line with Zanzibar’s Minister of State in the Second Vice President’s Office (Policy, Coordination, and House of Representatives) Dr Khalid Salum Mohamed, who noted that the isles government is taking efforts to improve policy and modernising farming.
For her part, the Chief Executive Officer of Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA), Dr Jacqueline Mkindi called for efficiency in implementation of the Public Private Partnership in enhancing productivity in the agricultural sector.
“Right now we are capable of exporting our products to over 190 countries worldwide,” she said, calling for a need to continue improving infrastructure in the country.
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