Investors Urged To Take Industries Upcountry

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Singida West CCM legislator Mohammed Missanga

Indutrialists have been challenged to start expanding their wings and establish industries in upcountry regions as the government grapples to put in place all necessary infrastructures across the country.

Industries and Trade deputy minister, Gregory Teu threw the challenge here yesterday when responding to a question posed by Singida West MP, Mohamed Missanga who asked the government to build industries in upcountry regions including Singida as a way of addressing rural-urban migration amongst the youth.

“It is true that rural-urban migration especially in Dar es Salaam has been contributed by lack of serious investments in those areas. But, the government is no longer engaging in business. What we do is creating friendly environment for private sectors to chip-in and set up investments like industries in rural areas,” the deputy minister said.

He added that the role of the government is to put up policies and a conducive environment for the private sector to operate smoothly.

“The government through export processing zone authorities (EPZA) has managed to allocate free areas for production; the idea being to give room for private sector to invest in industries.

“We are very interested to see every region is full of industries, as we know this is the best way to create job opportunities to our people and finally boost the country’s economy,” Teu stated.

The minister noted that the government has been ensuring that all allocated areas are supplied with water, power, communication facilities and roads.

In his supplementary question, MP Missanga said that Singida is a potential area for investors.

Citing some of the lucrative investment opportunities, the lawmaker said, “In Manyoni District we have countless gypsum materials which are fit for cement factory. So, I call upon investors in Cement sector to invest in the area, taking into account that there are no factories of that nature in the central corridor.”

He also stated that Singida is a home to sunflower, hence calling investors to invest in sunflower oil double refineries.

“Singida is well positioned for being a dry port that would be serving goods getting into landlocked of Rwanda, DRC, Burundi and Uganda as well,” he said.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN