Tanzania, UK set to hold joint tourism conference

British Foreign Office Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds (left) listens to Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Bernard Membe after a meeting held in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday on creating a good environment for business and fighting against poaching in the country. Right is Tanzania’s Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Lazaro Nyalandu.

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania and UK are set to hold a major trade and investment conference in London with a specific focus on tourism investments coming into the country by the end of the year.

The conference, according to Mr Mark Simmonds, the UK minister for Africa, is in a bid to continue improving and strengthening the existing bilateral trade relations between the two countries.

Already, in amalgamating social and economic ties between the two countries, a new British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) has been launched in the country to step up support for the UK firms interested in investing in Tanzania.  

According to available statistics from the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) as of June 2013, UK is the largest investor in the country with a 36 per cent market share, followed by China with 15 per cent.  

Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday Mr Simmonds, who was in the country for a two-day official visit, said at the conference that the UK companies and investors will receive proposals and presentations from the minister of Industry and Trade.

“We’re going to work on the date and come up with specific proposals that will ensure UK firms and investors are there to receive presentations on available investment opportunities in Tanzania,” said Mr Simmonds.

His visit to Tanzania also aimed at discussing three issues; the high prosperity development between Tanzania and UK, the fight against elephants and rhinos poaching as well as peace and security talks in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and great lakes countries.

“The UK government is concerned with the ongoing poaching in Tanzania. We’re committed to supporting Tanzania in tackling poaching and banning the increasing wildlife trophies business. We are not ready to see our future generations know elephants through photographs,” insisted Mr Simmonds. For his part Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, the minister for Natural Resources and Tourism said Tanzania has already taken short-term initiatives to combat poaching by increasing working gear like guns, vehicles and patrol choppers in the most affected areas.