Tanzanian private businesses call for deeper collaboration within EAC states

Private enterprises in Arusha, Tanzania, are calling for deeper collaborations between the public and private sectors as a strategy to boost intra-EAC trade and investment in the region.

This follows a consultative CEOs roundtable meeting organized by the East African Business Council (EABC) in collaboration with GIZ Creating Perspectives Project, convening company Chief Executives in Arusha, with aim of deliberating on approaches that the private sector can explore to revamp their businesses amid the pandemic.

The business leaders have lauded the Tanzanian government for its commitment towards sustainable economic growth, following the attainment of the middle-income status from the World Bank, this year.

The leaders also noted that the decision to keep the economy open, offered the private sector a major relief in terms of business resilience as it also strengthened local supply chains. This happens in the background of a recent report by the African Development Bank (AfDB), indicating that Tanzania’s economy is estimated to grow at 5.5 per cent in 2020, recording the highest growth in the region.

During the meeting, EABC CEO, Peter Mathuki called upon businesses to repurpose their business models to tap into new emerging opportunities such as e-commerce, digital technology, and biotechnology.

“Innovation, value addition, embracing our local content, and tapping into our regional supply value chains are some of the imperative solutions that will drive us towards economic growth,” he said.

Dr.Mathuki noted that, as Tanzania shares its borders with eight countries in the region, the move to keep the borders open has sustained intra-regional trade and replenished the region’s food basket.

“EAC economies are interdependent and the move to have borders open have seen the supply of staple food and necessities across the region maintained,” he said.

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Speaker, Martin Ngoga, challenged the business community to form a stronger unified front and defend their business interests in one collective voice through the EABC