US official’s Dar visit focuses on economic growth

Mr Jack Lew testifies at his confirmation hearing to be the new Treasury secretary in Washington. PHOTO|FILE 

By  Veneranda Sumila ,The Citizen Reporter

In Summary

• Mr Lew will hold meetings with senior government officials and business leaders to discuss the state of the global economy and policies as well as promote regional growth and investment,  the US Embassy in Dar said

Dar es Salaam. The US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew starts a tour of Tanzania  to discuss various issues with government and business officials.

Mr Lew who is arriving from Cairo will hold meetings with senior government officials and business leaders to discuss the state of the global economy and policies as well as  promote regional growth and investment, including President Obama’s Power Africa initiative, the embassy said in a statement yesterday. Power Africa is a US Presidential initiative announced in June 2013 and designed to increase access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa over the next five years

The power initiative which has started in six African countries including Tanzania supports energy sector through transaction assistance for priority generation projects, technical advice to release the constraints to private sector investment, and capacity building for key institutions.

He will meet Tanzanian Finance minister Saada Mkuya Salum today before visiting the port of Dar es Salaam and one power station in the city.

“Additionally, Secretary Lew will meet with a diverse group of business leaders for a roundtable discussion on the state of the global and regional economy, hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Tanzania,” the statement said.

Mr Lew is in a visit to three African countries: Egypt, Tanzania and South Africa.

The visit started yesterday in Cairo where Mr Lew met Egyptian Finance minister Hany Dimian and central bank governor Hisham Ramez. While in Cairo, he also met young Egyptian entrepreneurs.

On Wednesday, he will be in Johannesburg where he will meet business leaders to discuss investment and economic growth in South Africa, including power sector financiers and investors engaged with President Obama’s Power Africa initiative.