Sweden hails Tanzania corruption fight

Dar es Salaam. Sweden has commended Tanzania for being listed as one of the countries that are doing well in the fight against corruption in the region.

Recently, the 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International (TI) placed Tanzania at number 99 out of 180 countries.

The survey is conducted among experts and businesspeople using a scale of 0 to 100, with a zero score indicating lack of sensitivity on corruption, while the scaling slows down to highly corrupt and corruption-free environment. Swedish ambassador to Tanzania Anders Sjoberg said the improvement in the fight against corruption was a step in the right direction for the country to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Mr Sjoberg made the remarks recently when concluding a seven-day training program on industrial project preparation and appraisal using the flagship software of Computer Model for Feasibility Analysis and Reporting (COMFAR).

The training, which was organised by United Industrial Development Organization (Unido) brought together several experts from Tanzania investment promotion.

According to him, Sweden’s total population currently stands at about 10 million people yet there are over 7,000 foreigners who have invested and work in the European nation.

“A good number of them have invested in the manufacturing sector and this is why we need investors. They bring knowledge and competition in the country,” he said, terming Tanzania’s CPI ranking as a breakthrough for FDI.

“It is possible for companies to come to invest in the country, but the best way to get FDI is not to look for incentives from investors,”he said.

Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA)director of Planning and Development Lamau Mpoto said between last December to January this year, 11 foreign companies had shown interest to invets in the country.

He said that most companies were eyeing investment in horticulture, car assembly, food and minerals processing.

“So far everything is going well. We’re in the final stage of giving them certificates,” he said. Unido representative Mr Stephen Kargbo said his organisation has been supporting the country’s cross-cutting sectors, including promotion of agro-industry and renewable energy.

Others include technical support towards the identification and mitigation of health and industry related pollution, therefore participants should use the acquired knowledge to boast the 2025 country agenda.

said his organization has been supporting the country cross cutting sectors, including in promoting agro- industry and renewable energy.

Others include technical support towards the identification and mitigation of health and industry related pollution, therefore participants should use the acquired knowledge to boast the 2025 country agenda.