TANZANIAN businessman Mohammed Dewji was announced as the winner of the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year-Business Africa’ Award on Wednesday evening in Paris.
Movement of the Enterprises of France
(MEDEF) who organised the first ever Forum on Youth and Entrepreneurship
Africa, in partnership with the Choiseul Institute, awarded Mr Dewji
for the commendable impact he has had in driving a business that is
emblematic of Africa’s progress and success in this generation.
Established in 1988, MEDEF is the
largest employer federation in France, with large companies such as
Total, BNP Paribas, AXA Group, Micheln and L’Oreal as members. For
France to have organized and successfully launched this forum is a sign
of increased interest in fostering global private sector partnerships on
the continent.
Mr Dewji spoke at length about how he
plans to support the needs of the continent through private sector-led
development. “Long-term sustainable development is what will keep the
private sector thriving in Africa. And in order for this to happen,
private companies need to begin by including the poor as producers,
suppliers, employees and consumers, similar to how MeTL Group is doing
in Tanzania,” he said.
Mr Dewji urged France to start to see
nonfrancophone East Africa as an equally attractive investment
destination because of the rapid growth rates and political stability in
the region. He also greatly acknowledged the President of Tanzania, Dr
John Magufuli for his “anti-corruption war, anti-waste measures and
visionary style (which is) of great administration to Africa.
” Further speaking, he said that the
Tanzanian government “is a shining example of a new era of accountable
and proactive development.” In accepting the award, the President and
CEO of MeTL Group, Mohammed Dewji dedicated the award to the youth of
Africa, who he said, “are collectively our beacons of hope.”
He emphasised on never losing hope and
“let ability to innovative, adapt and transform be central in journeys
as change-agents for Africa.” Mr Dewji, who is also the founder of the
Mo Dewji Foundation in Tanzania, concluded his remarks by reminding the
audience of their role as “catalysts in the transformation journey that
Africa is currently on.
“We can build an entirely new future
based on the understanding that global integration is the cornerstone of
global prosperity,” he noted, urging the audience to continue to
position Africa as a world class destination for thriving business.
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