Tanzania: VP tells diaspora to promote investment opportunities

NEW YORK— Vice-President Dr Philip Mpango has called on Tanzanians in the diaspora to invest back home and promote the country’s investment opportunities in various sectors.

Dr Mpango made the remarks during a meeting with the Tanzanian community living in New York City in the United States on Monday.

The Vice-President is in the United States to represent President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 77), which opened on Sept 13 with High-Level Week taking place from Monday to Sept 23 at United Nations Hall in New York.

Dr Mpango will also participate in various meetings regarding the economy, health, education, democracy and sustainable development goal.

During his meeting with diaspora, he also encouraged them to make efforts in finding markets for Tanzanian products and raw materials in the countries where they live for the benefit of the majority of Tanzanians.

The Vice-President also told the diaspora to promote Kiswahili language and establish centres for learning and teaching the language in the areas where they are present.

He said promotion of Kiswahili language should go hand in hand with promoting the Tanzanians culture as well as the country’s tourist attractions.

Among the key intervention in National Five Year Development Plan FYDP 111 – 2021/22 – 2025/26 is to increase the number of Kiswahili experts working outside the country from 56 in the year 2019/2020 to 656 in 2025/2026.

The plan also intends to increase the number of Kiswahili publications sold overseas from 200 in 2019/2020 to 700 in 2020/2026.

Dr Mpango told the diaspora that the government has made improvements in various sectors including education, health and infrastructure, in efforts to bring about productive changes for all Tanzanians.

Moreover, Dr Mpango urged Tanzanian diaspora to make sure that they live in compliance with the law in the countries they are living and refrain from criminal acts that will damage the country’s image and reputation.

He also congratulated the diaspora for their efforts to contribute to development in various sectors and promised them that the government will continue to support their efforts.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Liberata Mulamula said that her docket is in the process of developing a foreign affairs policy that recognises the contribution of the diaspora to the economy.

She said the ministry would launch a database that will enable diaspora members to be identified wherever they are around the world.

Speaking earlier, the Founder of the Tanzanian Community in New York, Professor Estomiah Mtui thanked the government for the special procedure that enabled them to obtain national identities as well as continue to address the issue of special status for the diaspora.

Prof Mtui said the society will continue to cooperate and contribute to the development of Tanzania by realising that it is the duty of every Tanzanian to contribute to the development of the nation.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK