Finland's 2 Million Euros to Boost Tanzania Growth
Posted on : Monday , 14th December 2015
Dar es Salaam — Finish government has granted Euro 2 million (about Sh4.7billion) to an organization working to unlock economic potentials in East Africa--TradeMark East Africa (TMEA)--to complete building houses for staff working at border posts.
The move is part of a bigger plan to facilitate a one-stop-centre in four border posts in Tanzania.
The system which was proposed by the East African Community (EAC) will reduce the time transporters spend trying to clear goods at the different border points.
TMEA country director, Dr Josephat Kweka said during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) over the weekend in Dar es Salaam that the houses will accommodate staff of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Immigration officers and the police at the borders.
The border posts covered by the plan are Holili, Mutukula and Kabanga.
"Having these houses will enable the staff live near their work stations, therefore it will reduce time they spend travelling to the offices," he said.
Uganda and Kenya had already completed building houses for the staff on their parts, it was Tanzania that was not yet completed the construction.
Chairman of TMEA's board of directors, Mr Ali Mufuruki argued that if workers were spending much of their time to reach to stations of duty, operating one-stop border posts system will face challenge.
Mr Mufuruki noted that the high transit times and costs in the region are impacting the region negatively.
Finnish Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Pekka Hukka, said his country was committed to building trade capacity in Tanzania and strengthening regional integration.
"Tanzania needs a business friendly environment that attracts investment. A key part of this is making logistics cheaper and more effective," Mr Hukka said.
Currently, East Africa's trade corridors are characterized by long transit times and high costs. Freght costs per kilometer are more than 50 per cent higher than costs in the US and Europe.
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