Under the guidance of President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, Tanzania is scheduled to become a middle income nation by 2025. The Development Vision 2025 is focused on creating peace and stability, freedom from corruption, investment in the education of the Tanzanian people and a competitive and sustainable economy. The key to Magufuli’s Vision is industrialisation. “There is no economy in the world that can thrive without industrialisation and we are just beginning,” states Mr Subhash Patel, Chairman of the Motisun Group. Magufuli’s Vision of an industrialised nation is well underway.
The construction of Tanzania’s US$14.2 billion Standard Gauge Railway, stretching 2,561 kilometres connecting Dar es Salaam port to its land-locked neighbours, is an infrastructure project that will enhance trade opportunities for Tanzania. “Projects such as the SGR could help lower transport costs and improve economic activity from a reduction of production and operational costs, lower cost of consumer goods and increased transit of goods passing through Tanzania to landlocked countries,” says Faraj Abri, director of ASAS. This will increase relationships with East African countries and strengthen all economies of the region.
“As a country, our vision is clear. My administration is determined to make sure that Tanzania achieves its development aspiration of being a middle-income country by 2025 as stated in the National Development Vision. I insist to my government officials and the people that our Vision can be achieved with close collaboration of the public and private sector. As you have seen, I am pioneering the undertaking of major reforms to create more favorable investment environment to ensure that private sector drives our future growth.”
The Tanzania Port Authority is working toward this same agenda with the construction of the Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project (DMGP), which “will support the financing of crucial investments in the Port with the aim of improving its effectiveness and efficiency for the benefit of the public and private stakeholders,” says Eng. Deusdedit C.V Kakoko, Director General of TPA. In conjunction with the DMGP, TICTS is working to expand the additional capacity that will be needed at Tanzania’s ports. Chief Executive Officer, Jared Zerbe, states: “The assistance and cooperation received from the government of Tanzania, TPA and our customers using the port have been the source of growth.”
In addition to opening new doors for local and international trade, Tanzania has signed a groundbreaking contract with Egypt to build a new 2,115 MW hydroelectric power station. In an effort to decrease reliance on fossil fuels, the Rufiji Hydro Plant will be the largest in East Africa and is invaluable to Tanzania’s transformation. “The national target for the energy sector is to make sure that we reach 5,000 MW by 2020 and at least 10,000 by 2025. Construction on the 2,115 MW Rufiji Hydro Power Plant Project has just begun and this will greatly help us meet our target,” says, Hon. Medard Kalemani, Tanzania’s Minister of Energy.
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Accessible and reliable energy sources will aid the Finance and ICT sectors in their dedication to the Vision 2025 to create financial inclusion and reliable communication services for the Tanzanian people. As the economy of Tanzania inevitably improves, a system must be in place for its people to benefit from it. Abdulmajid Mussa Nsekela, Managing Director of CRDB Bank states, “In line with the financial inclusion framework, we have developed a digitalisation strategy roadmap, which is aimed at ensuring all Tanzanians and residents have proximity to affordable superior financial services.” Other banking entities such as Stanbic approach inclusivity in a way that allows ease of use and convenience. Kenrick Cockerill, CEO of Stanbic Bank Tanzania says, “We have an ecosystem approach to our clients, which means we like to bank entire communities and not just individual clients, which enables us to offer more seamless transactability across all the players in the ecosystems and value chains that we are supporting.“
Financial inclusion is made even more possible through mobile money transactions, which rely upon a stable telecom sector in order to function effectively. TCRA works to ensure access to reliable, affordable and secure communication services for Tanzanians and foreign investors alike. “Ninety-four percent of the population is now covered by mobile networks,” says Eng. Kilaba. These coverage and technological goals are shared with Tigo, the fastest growing telecom company in Tanzania. Managing Director Simon Karikari says, “We pride ourselves in being committed to Tanzania as a country. We have been here for 25 years and our determination is for long term growth and potential of this country. We continue to invest in the latest technology such as 4G+ because we believe data is the future.”
With this level of investment in the infrastructure, communication, technology, energy, and finance sectors, the Vision 2025 is on schedule to become a reality, placing Tanzania on the map as a middle income country, and surely as the guiding light for other African nations to follow their example.
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