Magufuli, retired presidents invited to business dialogue

What you need to know:

In commemorating 20 years of Tanzania Private Sector Foundation and 30 years of Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA), the two business lobby groups are organizing a national dialogue and have invited all of the country’s four living state house occupants, experts and policymakers, aiming at evaluating the past, current and future situation of the private sector in the economy.

Dar es Salaam. Members of the business community have invited President John Magufuli and former presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Benjamin Mkapa and Jakaya Kikwete to a national dialogue on Tanzania’s business environment.

Through their apex body, the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), businesses want the four individuals to share their efforts and contributions towards building a formidable private sector in the country.

The dialogue will be part of a series of activities undertaken to mark 20th anniversary for TPSF and 30th anniversary of the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (TCCIA).

They (the presidents) will be joined by members of the business community, policy makers and economics experts at the dialogue that is slated for December 4.

“As we celebrate 30 years of the existence of TCCIA and 20 years of TPSF, we understand that there are people who played pivotal roles in taking us to where we are today,” said TPSF executive director Godfrey Simbeye.

According to him, the former presidents have been asked to speak on what they did during their days at the helm of Tanzania’s leadership to promote the private sector while the incumbent leader will share his current vision and mission in supporting the growth of enterprises in the country.

“We are all aware that Ali Hassan Mwinyi was the first president to introduce a private sector-led economy in the country, transforming it from ujamaa (socialism), and he was the pioneer of the establishment of TCCIA in 1988. We therefore need to hear from him on why he did so,” Mr Simbeye noted.

He said as it is well known, it was former president Mkapa who cemented Tanzania’s macroeconomic fundamentals.

It was also during his time that the TPSF was established in 1998. Likewise, it was during former president Mkapa’s era that dialogue between the public and private sectors was institutionalised through the formation of Tanzania National Business Council (NBC) in 2001.

In the same vein, former President Kikwete did a commendable job of attracting foreign direct investment while protecting the macroeconomic gains that the country attained during President Mkapa’s presidency. Mr Kikwete also did a wonderful job of building the required infrastructure for the private sector to thrive.

“Our inviting them is meant to enable the business community to recognize their contributions in the development of this sector,” he said.

According to him, experts will also be there to critique and advise the private sector while, policymakers will source valid information for them to come up with favourable policies that will ensure that Tanzania remains safe and attractive for investments.