The management of the Economic Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) has reaffirmed its resolve to continue implementing the government’s Five Years Development Plan by creating conducive environment for the development of industries for attaining sustainable development in Tanzania.
Director General of the Economic Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), Dr Adelhelm Meru
The authority’s Director General, Dr Adelhelm Meru revealed this when talking to journalists recently in Dar es Salaam when commenting on the progress achieved by EPZA in the past six years.
He noted that EPZA concentrates on creating conducive environment for investors to pour their money in establishing industries knowing clearly that without a strong base of industries, no meaningful progress can be achieved.
“History teaches us that no meaningful development can be achieved if a country lacks viable industries,” he said, adding that Tanzania cannot afford to be left behind in that regard.
“We are implementing the government’s Five Years Development Plan by facilitating investors who want to start industries in our areas to do so with ease,” he said.
He said that one of the priorities of the nation’s development plan is creation of viable industries which will be able to stimulate other sectors of the economy to progress. “We are committed in supporting the government’s development plan by actions,” he said.
He explained that on average, about 55 per cent of industries established under the EPZA deals with agriculture value addition and textile processing.
“This will greatly help in strengthening the country’s economy,” he said, adding that these industries employ a lot of people and therefore improve their welfare.
He mentioned other areas that attract investors as hide processing, fish processing and investment in forest related activities.
“Investing in various processing industries will help our country in exporting semi and finished products as opposed to raw materials and therefore increase the profit margin,” he said. Earlier, Dr Meru challenged higher learning institutions to start aligning their courses in accordance with the needs in the country.
Source Tanzania Daily News
