MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND TOURISM HON. LAZARO NYALANDU INVITES SAUDI ARABIA INVESTORS TO TANZANIA

Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu (MP) has urged Saudi investors to come to Tanzania, highlighting the existing investment opportunities in the hospitality industry in the country. He told a group of business community led by the Chairman of the Saudi Chamber of Commerce H.E Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Zamil in Riyadh, that the country have attractive investment procedures in setting up business particularly in the hospitality industry where there is a need to build more hotels and lodges to cater for the increasing number of tourist arrivals. “The existing investment environment is suitable for more investors from Saudi Arabia especially in the tourism sector where more hotels are needed now than before,” said Nyalandu who is leading a high profile delegation from the ministry of natural resources and tourism in Saudi Arabia. He said Tanzania was growing in terms of business with various investment potentials available in the country citing shortage of bed capacities in the country as one area open for investors. He further said that Tanzania has taken the lead in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the East African region. He mentioned that Tanzania is second after Brazil globally in terms of having abundance natural attractions and that major efforts are now needed to translate them for the well being of our economy. Tanzanian delegation mission to Saudi Arabia is also meant to ask for more support in strengthening wildlife conservation sector in the country. Tanzania has been working closely with Saudi Arabia in promoting wildlife conservation. Hon. Nyalandu further mentioned that although the number of Arab tourists to East Africa is not as big as the European and American holidaymakers, there has been a notable figure of hunting tourists from the Middle East to Tanzania and the rest of East Africa. It is estimated that nearly 15,000 tourists come from Middle East states every year, compared to traditional tourists from Europe and North America. Minister Nyalandu and his delegation met with Saudia Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Mohammad Al-Saud, who is also the President of Saudi Wildlife Authority. Hon. Nyalandu was also accompanied with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism Dr. Adelhelm Meru; Tanzania Ambassador in Saudi Arabia Prof. Abdillah Omari; Hon. James Lembeli, Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Lands, Natural Resources and Environment; Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Hon. Peter Msigwa and the Director General of TANAPA, Allan Kijazi.

By Pascal Shelutete, TANAPA