The outgoing US Ambassador to Tanzania, Alfonso E Lenhardt has pledged continued support to Tanzania on socio-economic growth and urged private sector to assume a more robust role in support of the initiatives.
US Ambassador to Tanzania, Alfonso E Lenhardt
“If Tanzania is to grow and industrialize, the private sector will need to partner with the government and other stakeholders to ensure infrastructure projects are implemented, especially in the energy sector, as emphasized by President Obama. “In everything you do, always think about Tanzania ‘Kwanza’.
When I go back home, I will tell every corporate and organization about Tanzania. It is upon you to utilize the opportunities,” Ambassador Lenhardt said in Dar es Salaam recently.
He made the remarks during farewell dinner hosted in his honour by the CEO Round Table (CEOrt) as Ambassador’s tenure in office ends in October this year. Ali Mufuruki Chairman, of the CEOrt commended the US Ambassador for a significant role played to enhance growth of relations between the two countries.
“Four years of your stay in Tanzania you reached out the community and helped unlock new business opportunities for the private sector. You enhanced support to the country through donor agencies and projects such as the Millennium Challenge Account Compact.
Diplomatic and trade relations have grown tremendously, thank to you so much,” Mufuruki said. Among other historic achievements realized while in office, he added, was the visit to Tanzania by President Barack Obama who chose Tanzania as the right setting to announce the famous Energy-Africa. His visit further opened trade opportunities between the two continents.
“On behalf of all members of the CEOrt and the private sector of Tanzania, I thank you (Ambassador) for your leadership and the private sector of Tanzania will always consider you a friend of this country,” he said.
Ambassador Lenhardt said the US government contributed more than US Dollar 750 million in support of various initiatives and programmes in Tanzania.
“The initiatives have increased household incomes, raised the quality of life, targeted infrastructure investments in the transport, energy and water sectors and have contributed to economic growth.
This contribution, however, only scratches the surface of what is needed to unlock the potential of this great nation. “The private sector has the power to drive economic growth as well as support infrastructure and social investment in Tanzania,” Ambassador Lenhardt explained.
The US government is involved in numerous activities in an effort to boost Tanzania/US relations in different levels in both public and private sectors.
He added, among them is a pact signed to partner in power regulation capacity building, a step meant to solve energy problems through ‘power Africa project’ initiative and the Millennium Challenge Pact II that will support the development of infrastructure in the water and transport sectors as well as numerous initiatives in the health sector through its donor agencies.
The CEOrt is a leading private sector forum in Tanzania. The forum constructively engages the government and other stakeholders in creating a more conducive environment for businesses to prosper and contribute to economic growth for the country.
The forum has over 80 leading companies who account for more than 40 per cent of the total tax revenue collected by the government.
By BILHAM KIMATI, Tanzania Daily News
