‘Avoid taking sides in major power rifts’

Opening an academic conference on business prospects and economic development organized by the College of Business (CBE) in Dodoma yesterday, he said that the current leaders had taken over the country’s experience in economic diplomacy.

He said that in discussions on investment issues leaders encounter greater power frictions, underlining that it is good to tell them that Tanzania wishes to have good relations with everyone.

Narrating his experiences, he said he once visited the Toyota factory in Japan, where he saw flags of the United States, Japan and China, apart from other flags.

“There is no nation whose flag is not there and these are the countries that have invested,” he said, noting that if a Chinese investor sets up such a factory here a problem comes up. Western countries dislike Chinese people investing in our countries, he said.

He recalled that in the United Nations it was Taiwan Island that was representing China, where Tanzania led the combat for restoring the rights of China, and it is the basis of the friendship between China and Tanzania.

"The Chinese are bringing investment, the Americans are there, the British are there,” he said, noting that African countries are looking for markets for our products in China and elsewhere.

He said that development is fueled by the correct use of research and professional advice, since a country with little use of research tends to lag behind in development, “which is why Africa is behind.”

He reiterated that in order for the country to grow, it is necessary to create a good environment for investment and business so that people are willing to invest.

"No economy can grow without investment,” he said, emphasizing that investment thrives in a business environment that is good. “Investment is a product that is ashamed to exist in a place which it is not a friend."

"If you create an unfriendly business environment, newcomers are afraid to come and the existing ones leave and if they don't leave, they don't expand commercially. They say let's see how it goes because you're not sure what your tomorrow will be like," he said.

It is the government's responsibility is to create an environment for the private sector to grow, he said, pointing out that during the Big Results Now (BRN) drive the government looked at the business environment and each time the cabinet of ministers the matter was on the agenda.