Tanzania and the EU have been enjoying very cordial relations since President Samia Suluhu Hassan came to power in March 2021.
In February last year, the President visited the European Commission (EC) headquarters in Brussels, Belgium where, during a meeting with the President of the EC, Ersula Von der Leyen, it was revealed that Tanzania would receive 425 million Euros (about Sh1.15 trillion) over a period three years to fund projects related to strengthening digitisation, promoting gender equality and green cities.
Upon returning from the trip to Belgium and France, President Hassan said in Dar es Salaam that apart from the 425 million Euros, Tanzania would also secure a €178 million (Sh464.1 billion) concessional loan for the bus rapid transit (BRT) project from France.
In March 2022, the EU head of delegation to Tanzania, Mr Manfredo Fanti, revealed that investors in the 27-member European bloc were happy with initiatives that the East African nation was taking to improve its business climate, saying the move would foster Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows.
In its 2022 EU Investment in Tanzania Report 2022, the EU said in March 2022 that investors were cautiously optimistic that statements by the president would be translated into tangible actions over the short to mid-term
Going by the report, the EU’s exports to Tanzania were valued at €856 million (about Sh2.1 trillion) in 2021, while imports stood at €456 million (about Sh1.1 trillion).
Some 100 companies from the EU have invested in the country, creating an estimated 151,000 jobs, according to the report that was jointly prepared by the EU Delegation and the European Business Group (EUBG).
And, speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Mr Fanti said this first-ever EU business forum comes at a time when Tanzania was effectively implementing its economic diplomacy policy.
“There have been a number of positive signals from the government to the private sectors with regard to a framework for business and there are expectations for legal and regulatory reforms in order to improve the sector. We therefore thought this is the right moment to do this kind of an event,” he said.
EU head of cooperation, Mr Cédric Merel said the forum responds to the strong request of President Samia Suluhu Hassan who called for more investments in the country.
“EU is branded as a global gateway. This is European strategy to increase investment in particular in Tanzania and bringing public and private money to the country’s key sectors,” he said.
Mr Merel said some of the key sectors to be deliberated during the forum will be agriculture, energy transition, manufacturing, connectivity, construction, digital enablers, transport and logistics, skills development, finance, and support for investment and the Public Private Partnership.
“Compared to other partners, I think we can bring major value on two things and that is the green transition because Europe is at the forefront to address challenges of climate change and the second one will be to propose solutions for the digital transition,” he said.
It is expected that President Hassan will grace the two-day forum that starts on February 23.
In attendance will be senior officials from several ministries and members of the business community who will engage in the business-to-government talks (B2G).
The director of planning, research, and information technology at Tanzania Centre of Investment (TIC), Mr Mafutah Bunini said the business forum compliments government’s efforts in opening up the country’s economy by improving the business climate and constant strategic reforms.
“This forum offers Tanzania a great opportunity to welcome European investment, technology, and expertise to our country,” he said.
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European Union Bans Air Tanzania Over Safety Concerns
Kampala — The European Commission added Air Tanzania to the EU Air Safety List, banning the airline from operating within European Union airspace. This decision follows the denial of Air Tanzania’s Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), citing significant safety deficiencies.
The EU Air Safety List includes airlines that fail to meet international safety standards. Commissioner Tzitzikostas emphasized the importance of passenger safety, stating: “The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards. We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift action to address these safety issues. The Commission has offered its assistance to Tanzanian authorities to enhance safety performance and achieve compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania joins several African airlines banned from EU airspace, including carriers from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Kenya. Notable names include Congo Airways, Sudan Airways, and Kenyan carriers Silverstone Air Services and Skyward Express. The ban reflects the EU’s strict approach to aviation safety worldwide.
Source: allafrica.com
Africa: Rwanda Gets a Grip Of Marburg, But Mpox ‘Not Yet Under Control’
Monrovia — The Rwanda Minister of State responsible for Health, Dr. Yvan Butera, cautioned that while the country is beginning to see positive signals in its fight against the Marburg virus, the outbreak is “not yet over”. He, however, expressed hope that “we are headed in that direction”. The minister said the epidemiology trend, since the disease was first discovered in the country more than a month ago, is moving towards fewer cases.
Dr. Butera, who was giving updates during an online briefing yesterday, said in the past two weeks, only two deaths were recorded while 14 people recovered from the disease. He said Rwanda was expanding its testing capacity with 16,000 people already inoculated against the disease.
The priority right now, Butera said, is “rapid testing and detection”.
Marburg is a highly virulent disease transmitted through human-to-human contact or contact with an infected animal. The fatality rate of cases, which has varied over the period, is more than 50%, according to the World Health Organization. WHO said the highest number of new confirmed cases in Rwanda were reported in the first two weeks of the outbreak. There’s been a “sharp decline” in the last few weeks, with the country now tackling over 60 cases.
At Thursday’s briefing, a senior official of the Africa Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, said mpox – the other infectious disease outbreak that countries in the region are fighting – was been reported in 19 countries, with Mauritius being the latest country to confirm a case. He said although no new cases have been recorded in recent weeks in several countries where outbreaks occurred previously – including Cameroon, South Africa, Guinea, and Gabon – Uganda confirmed its first Mpox death. This, he said, is one of two fatalities reported outside Central Africa.
Dr. Ngashi revealed that there was an increase in cases in Liberia and Uganda. He said mpox cases were still on an upward trend.
“The situation is not yet under control.”
Source: allafrica.com
