By Guardian Reporter , The Guardian
FRENCH investors can readily come to Zanzibar to look at investment opportunities in the tourism, fishing and fish hatchery spheres in particular, as well as ports, oil and gas apart from water transport.
President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi issued this invitation here yesterday at the first Tanzania-France business mission and forum drawing together investors, industrialists and traders from French and Zanzibar business associations.
Ali Mwadini, the Tanzanian ambassador to France along with resident French ambassador Nabil Haijaoui, were present as the president underlined that tourism has a great contribution to the Zanzibar economy.
Tourism contributes 30 percent of the national income, with its features like beach tourism, heritage site visits, sports, newly arising health tourism and international engagements, he stated, highlighting the blue economy sector.
It has distinguished itself in important areas including fishing and farming of fish fingerlings, seaweed cultivation and tourism, he said, assuring the visiting exploratory mission hat the fishing sector provides many opportunities.
Fishermen and individuals involved in boat and barge activities can thrive in the sector, as well as those in seaweed farming mostly women, he said, affirming that the women lead in the production of good seaweed compared to most of Africa.
Opportunities in blue economy projects include the Mangapwani multipurpose port now placed on extensive revamping for servicing import containers for local and foreign businesses, he said, pointing at Malindi, Mkokotoni and Fumba ports as being in a strategic development phase.
They are vital to the country's economy for transportation and distribution of goods, providing services like receiving cargo, transporting products such as oil, and grain, he stated, elaborating on intentions to strengthen trade links by interconnected port services for Zanzibar, Pemba, Tanga, Dar es Salaam and Mtwara, as they link with businesses seeking to transport goods to Mozambique and Comoro Islands in particular.
The French ambassador applauded Franco-Tanzanian cooperation, noting that ties with Tanzania generally and Zanzibar in particular have strengthened community engagements, uplifting bilateral spheres of cooperation in education issues, where strategies are being designed to make good use of learning opportunities the communities on both sides benefit academically.
One clear result of the existing partnership is in successive visits by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, first in February 2022 and then a few weeks ago, while the Foreign Affairs docket holder has made business visits to France. He also obtained several invitations from businessmen and investors, the envoy noted.
Sharif Ali Sharif, the Labour, Economy and Investment state minister in the President's Office, said that the Zanzibar government was rapidly improving the island's status of a viable investment environment, strengthening roads and communications and enhancing tourism.
The forum was convened to discuss various business and investment issues including energy, infrastructure, tourism, blue economy, technology development issues, environmental cleanliness, and other matters, he specified.
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