Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan was on a mission to revive the tourism sector in her country and strengthens bilateral ties with the US on Friday.
Before the meeting in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, in Washington, US Vice-President Kamala Harris outlined the areas of discussion:
“The focus of this trip includes in the United States focusing on the investment opportunities as it relates to the economy as a general matter, but also in the area of tourism. And your trip has also generated nearly $1 billion in new investments from companies in the United States. And that has and will contribute no doubt to the economic growth of Tanzania, but in that way will contribute to the growth, the economic growth and jobs in the United States as well.”
The officials meeting also concluded with promises of investment in Tanzania’s energy sector. President Suluhu promoted Tanzania’s efforts to ease collaboration with the private sector. She mentioned the Tanzania Investment Act, “expected to set the tone for creating the safe lending for investors“.
Tanzania and the US have on Friday April 22, signed Seven agreements for business projects which are set to be implemented in Tanzania by investors and companies from the United States of America.
The signing of the agreement was witnessed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan who is in the United States for a two-week official trip.
According to a statement issued by the directorate of presidential communications, the deals with key private sector companies are worth a total of $5.04 billion (Sh11.3trillion) and are expected to create an estimated 301, 110 jobs in agriculture, tourism, trade and other sectors of the economy.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan with US Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzanne Clark at the Chamber’s offices in Washington DC.
“President Samia witnessed the signing or Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), letters of intent and announcements to initiate negotiations on investment, trade and business relations between US companies and Tanzania in Washington D.C.” reads part of the statement.
The statement further adds: Other projects will target maximization of value chain activities within the northern Circuit or Tanzania’s tourism industry by modernizing the promotion, services and diversification or tourism products.
“President Samia also witnessed important announcements for US based Companies that have interests and plans to engage in Tanzania economic business and trade relations. They include Upepo Energy and Astra Energy Crane Currency and parallel Wireless,” added the presidency in the statement.
Among other engagements, President Samia also attended the Executive Business Roundtable at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Washington DC which brought together members of the business community, government and representatives of the private sector from both countries to discuss mutual investment, trade and business opportunities.
The President’s visit has also seen her launch the Royal Tour documentary in New York on April 18, and Los Angeles California on April 21.
She also met and discussed a wide range of issues with US Vice President Kamala Harris at White House, Washington DC on Friday May 15.
Talking about investments, she added that she was ” excited about the prospect of promoting further trade and investment ties of mutual, for mutual benefits, and cognizant of that, we need to creating an ease of doing business. And my government, in close collaboration with the private sector has put in place better conditions and favorable an environment for the private sector to thrive. So my only request here is to for the U.S. government to encourage more the private sector from the U.S. to work with us.”
Tanzania is home to some of the most famous safari treasures like Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater or the island of Zanzibar. Since the Covid pandemic affected the tourism industry,
Suluhu launched during her US tour a program to showcase Tanzania’s touristic potentials, since the Covid pandemic affected the industry.
