Business community seeks dialogue with four presidents on private sector

Dar es Salaam. The business community has 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 its apex body, the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), the business community wants the four leaders to share their experiences and contributions to the development of the private sector.

The dialogue will be held on December 4, 2018, as part of activities marking the 20th anniversary of TPSF and the 30th anniversary of the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA).

The presidents will be joined by business leaders, policymakers and economic experts.

“As we celebrate 30 years of TCCIA and 20 years of TPSF, we recognise that there are people who played important roles in bringing us to where we are today,” TPSF executive director Godfrey Simbeye said.

He said the former presidents had been invited to explain measures taken during their administrations to support the private sector, while President Magufuli would outline his plans for supporting business growth.

Mr Simbeye said President Mwinyi played a key role in shifting Tanzania towards a private sector-led economy and was involved in the establishment of TCCIA in 1988.

He said the administration of President Mkapa strengthened the country’s macroeconomic foundations and oversaw the establishment of TPSF in 1998.

The Tanzania National Business Council was also established in 2001 during President Mkapa’s administration, institutionalising dialogue between the public and private sectors.

Mr Simbeye said President Kikwete promoted foreign direct investment while maintaining the macroeconomic gains made under President Mkapa.

He added that his administration also invested in infrastructure needed to support private sector development.

“Our invitation is intended to give the business community an opportunity to recognise their contributions to the development of the private sector,” he said.

Mr Simbeye said economic experts would also participate in the dialogue to provide advice to the private sector, while policymakers would use information from the discussions to develop policies aimed at maintaining a favourable investment environment.