It’s Mwalimu Nyerere who brought CRJE Company in Tanzania

What you need to know:

The company has built a total of 3 million square meters of all kinds of engineering construction in Tanzania within 50 years, including more than 30 landmark projects such as the Nyerere Bridge, Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation Square, Nyerere Leadership School, Parliamentary Debating Chamber, Kilimanjaro Hyatt Regency Hotel, University of Dodoma campus, Uhuru heights and Millennium Tower Phase II

CRJE (East Africa) Ltd has been working in Tanzania for 50 years. It was established in 1969 to undertake the Great Uhuru Railway-TAZARA, the largest ever complete project courtesy of China’s grants, and it boasts as five-star quality contractor with international standards compliance.

What has been your experience working in Tanzania?

The company has built a total of 3 million square meters of all kinds of engineering construction in Tanzania within 50 years, including more than 30 landmark projects such as the Nyerere Bridge, Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation Square, Nyerere Leadership School, Parliamentary Debating Chamber, Kilimanjaro Hyatt Regency Hotel, University of Dodoma campus, Uhuru heights and Millennium Tower Phase II.

How does CRJE describe the Late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere?

Shortly, Mwalimu Nyerere is one of the greatest leaders who brought unity to all Tanzanians. And the untold truth is that, CRJE would have not be here if it was not for TAZARA Railway project that was initiated by Mwalimu Nyerere especially when you put into consideration that very few people knew about China in the 1960s.

Therefore, Mwalimu Nyerere after he had made couple of visits to China and by then, introduced his prominent slogan stated, “Go East”, so I suppose, we were driven by his vision to foster infrastructure development particularly the TAZARA.

What are Mwalimu Nyerere’s virtues that CRJE have converted into their social fabrics?

One of the key virtues left by Mwalimu Nyerere that we as company continue holding onto, is justice. We make such huge differences having entrenched an exquisite system that generally assess employee’s performance regardless their nationalities. We fairly provide our staff with same opportunity, background to perform their duties, consider the necessary and reasonable promotions.

What sets CRJE apart from any other construction companies?

Basically, there are two things that set us apart from our competitors; first, we take Tanzania as our home with an outstanding experience of working in Tanzania for 50 years of major undertakings in construction activities. This means we always transfer our maximum qualities to every project done within the country. We also share the success with the local partners and local communities. Our efforts are recognized and we have been awarded not only the Best Foreign Contractor but also the Best Foreign Contractor Supporting local Industries.

Second, we always have the long term development plan to grow with the country.  We have not only invested heavily in the modern equipment and plants for our construction activities, we have been also investing in the other sectors that falls into the government development vision. i.e., we invested 150 million U.S. dollars in the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation Square that helps to enhance the hospitality infrastructure in the country so as to promote the tourism industry. We’re also investing in industrial park in Dar es Salaam following the government’s direction to make Tanzania an industrialized country.

 I can surely, testify that CRJE has invested much more than the profit we got from this country and we are keeping on investing in the country because of our long-term plans in Tanzania. In this sense, we can proudly say that we never take any cent of profit out of this country.

What are the achievements garnered by CRJE?

We have managed to demonstrate how projects are carried out in a very professional manner. All of our projects are executed with good qualities, within time frame and at reasonable costs.

 

We emphasize on localized development, and CRJE has more than 5,000 local employees in East Africa. While constantly developing its business, it tries to benefit the locals and make positive contributions to the friendship between China and Tanzania.

Also, we have trained most of our staff into being high profile technicians acquainted with sufficient expertise to undertake any project. 

Locals constitute most number of our staff and they are happy working with CRJE Company.

Apart from that, we believe in giving back to the communities where we operate. We have continued maintaining our relationship with communities through intensive financial support to the needy.

CRJE has committed to improving hospitality infrastructure as building five star hotels. Despite the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation Square, a Tanzania landmark being developed by CRJE and co-financed by the International Finance Corporation of World Bank, CRJE has built the newest 5 star Johari Rotana hotel. The hotel accommodates:

•        256 hotel rooms, suites and serviced apartment with fantastic sea-view and city-view

•        Largest hotel conference facilities in East Africa

•        Ballroom of 900 square meters

•        7 Food & Beverage outlets, including Hamilton pool bar, all day dining, Chinese Restaurant, Lobby cafe etc. Fitness, Spa, Steam and Sauna House & Pool.

Taking modern living to new heights, Johari Rotana. With Tanzania’s largest ballroom and the most extensive meeting facilities, Johari Rotana is without a doubt the perfect one-stop venue for work and leisure.

Winding up, CRJE (East Africa) Ltd accounts to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as paying taxes which are as a result of revenues obtained from these mega projects.

What experiences could China share with us in the construction sector?

You may notice that China have many companies across the world in construction of mega projects. This thanks to adopting Opening and Reforming Policy in China since 1978. By the time of introducing this policy, majority of its construction companies were still weak. But the Opening and Reforming policy has propelled stiff competition among Chinese construction companies and altogether become an integral part of their developed economy.

Tanzania is massively endowed with plenty of growth opportunities and the construction sector is now one of the major contribution for the economy growth. The successful policy in this regard might be helpful to Tanzania.

What Tanzanian culture have you found interesting?

CRJE was caught in surprise with the fact that most Tanzanians are humble people. We have found ourselves surrounded by unexpected group of friends in Dar es Salaam. It is a country with peace, harmony and humility.

Where do you aspire to be after five years?

We are going to be significant contributors of the improvement of infrastructure in Tanzania.

We are also going to be major employer and investor of construction works in Tanzania.

We aspire to continue advancing hospitality infrastructure to promote economic growth through tourism.

 It is our pride that we are cited as an example of how foreign construction companies work with locals.