The Premier told the Oman Minister for Commerce, Dr Ali Masoud Al Sunaidy in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the government was keen to attract private investments to promote industrialization, export and growth in line with the development agenda of transforming the agriculture economy into semi-industrial economy.

 

"Manufacturing sector is the area we want to strengthen as it will improve the value of our crops and local products and increase more jobs and trade opportunities to our youth.

 

So I welcome you to invest in the country," he told the visiting Oman minister who is leading a strong delegation of business community from the Middle East country who arrived in Tanzania on Tuesday for a three-day visit to explore trade and investments opportunities.

 

He said the government was also improving the energy, transportation and agriculture sectors which would help the nation realize its vision of reaching the middle income status.

 

He said the government had worked hard for over two decades to put in place conducive investment environment and it offers well balanced and competitive package for fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for large scale investors.

 

"We offer a wide range of investment incentives just like several other popular investment destinations in the world. And, in some respect we are even more generous and attractive," he said.

 

The Prime Minister told the visiting Oman minister that the government would provide necessary support for investors from Oman to invest in various sectors.

 

Dr Al Sunaidy said the Oman business delegation that comprise of traders and industrialists were pleased with conducive investment environment in Tanzania and were interested to invest in various areas including processing industries, modern farming, port construction and oil and in gas sectors.

 

"Oman has Salala port which is one of best ports in the world with capacity to handle 45 containers per hour. We have also Sohar port which is famous for manufacturing products and has the capacity to handle 32 containers per hour," he said.

 

Port of Salalah is the largest port in Oman. Situated in the Dhofar Governorate, on the Arabian Sea which is on the northern part of the Indian Ocean.

 

Sohar Port and Freezone is a deep-sea port and adjacent free zone in the Middle East, located in Sohar, Oman, around 200 kilometres northwest of the capital Muscat.

 

The Minister for Energy and Minerals, Prof. Sospeter Muhongo, said he understood that Oman has made great strides in liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology and said he believed Tanzania would benefit from the technolgy.

 

He said Oman business community could also invest in fertilizer industries in Lindi and Mtwara regions and could also invest in Bagamoyo, Tanga, Kilwa, Lindi and Mtwara ports.

 

The meeting was attended by Saud bin Ali al-Raqishi, Sultanate's Ambassador to Tanzania, Abdul Salam bin Mohammed al- Murshidi, CEO of the State General Reserve Fund, Said bin Saleh al- Kayoumi, Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and some members of the Omani delegation accompanying Dr al-Sunaidy.

Source : allafrica.com