TRANSPORTERS have applauded President John Magufuli for his efforts that won the Ugandan oil pipeline deal, challenging all Tanzanians to aggressively go for the business opportunities to be created.
The Tanzania Truck Owners Association
(TATOA) also paid special tribute to the negotiation team under Energy
and Minerals Minister, Professor Sospeter Muhongo, for the job well
done.
“The president has done a commendable
job to win this giant project ... it’s now upon us stakeholders to join
hands and go for immense business opportunities that the project
brings,” TATOA Chairperson, Ms Angelina Ngalula, said in Dar es Salaam.
She said the construction of the
1,400-kilometre pipeline that would transport crude oil from Hoima in
Uganda to Tanga Port will create huge business opportunities, which
will, however, require aggressiveness to grab them.
Ms Ngalula said all transport and port
stakeholders were duty-bound to strategically and creatively work out
plans to exploit maximum benefits out of the project.
“President Magufuli and his team in the
government have indeed done a great thing for the development of the
national economy, it’s now upon us to support this great feat,” she
urged.
Through the multi-trillion project, the
TATOA Chairperson said, Tanzania can easily use the opportunity to
promote her ports and attract more investors and customers, thus
strengthening the economy.
“This opportunity is huge. It will put
our Tanga Port in the world map. It makes sense for all port
stakeholders to join forces by grabbing this opportunity,” she stressed.
The transporters also commended Prof
Muhongo for what they described as his patriotism during the execution
of the Mtwara-Kinyerezi gas pipeline in which local companies were given
priority in the project’s transport requirements.
“We have faith in Prof Muhongo,
believing that under his leadership, indigenous people and local firms
will get special preference in the execution of the oil pipeline
project,” said Ms Ngalula.
TATOA Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel
Kakuyu said after winning the pipeline, it was now upon all stakeholders
to ensure that construction materials for the project are shipped
through the Dar es Salaam Port.
“We are duty bound to work hard in
ensuring that our competitors are not taking this business ... it’s our
responsibility to cooperate and succeed,” said Mr Kakuyu.
Meanwhile, the truck
owners have commended President Magufuli’s efforts to consolidate
business relations between Tanzania and Rwanda, asking for similar
initiatives for Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“President Magufuli’s tour of Rwanda has
motivated more Rwandan traders to rethink using the Dar es Salaam Port.
There is an increased interest among Rwandans to use the port after the
president’s visit to Kigali,” noted Ms Ngalula
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