Turn policies into action, Tanzania urges Africa

EGYPT: TANZANIA has called on African countries to move beyond developing policies, strategies and agreements and focus on implementing them to ensure the continent’s vast resources and economic opportunities translate into tangible benefits for its people.

Representing President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan at the Alamein-Africa Business Forum in New Alamein, Egypt, Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi said Africa needs to accelerate implementation of its development frameworks, increase production and build economies capable of withstanding external shocks.

He said prevailing global economic uncertainties and regional conflicts had underscored the need for African countries to strengthen their productive capacity and ensure that the continent’s natural resources were used to drive sustainable development.

“Africa already has good policies, plans and agreements. What we need now is to implement them in practice by changing our mindset, strengthening cooperation, increasing political will and making decisions that put the interests of African people first,” he said.

Mr Ndejembi said investment in energy and infrastructure remained essential to Africa’s economic growth, citing Tanzania’s experience in implementing major strategic projects, including the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, which has a generation capacity of 2,115 megawatts.

He said the investment formed part of Tanzania’s efforts to increase access to reliable electricity for households and productive activities, with the country targeting universal access to electricity by 2050.

Under the National Development Vision 2050, Mr Ndejembi said Tanzania had identified strategic areas aimed at increasing production and strengthening the energy sector, including greater use of natural gas and renewable energy sources.

He also called for stronger cooperation between governments and the private sector, increased cross-border investment and deeper economic integration among African countries to reduce dependence on external markets and capital.

Mr Ndejembi said African governments should create an enabling environment for private capital to flow into productive projects capable of creating jobs, increasing output and adding value to the continent’s resources.

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“Africa needs to create an environment that attracts private capital into projects that increase production, create jobs and add value to the continent’s resources,” he said.

Citing Tanzania’s experience, the Vice-President said the country had continued cooperating with other East African nations on strategic projects involving railways, oil, energy and ports, helping to promote trade and economic integration.

Speaking at the opening of the forum, Burundi President and African Union Chairperson Évariste Ndayishimiye said Africa had abundant natural resources, fertile agricultural land, minerals, energy sources, a large youth population and a significant consumer market.

He said the challenge was to transform those resources and opportunities into tangible economic results through stronger economic cooperation, investment and production. President Ndayishimiye called for concerted efforts to advance the objectives of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, particularly through increased intra-African trade and investment.

Dangote Group Chairman Aliko Dangote said global economic turbulence had also affected African economies, urging countries to use their natural resources to strengthen domestic production and build stronger economic foundations.

He called for faster industrialisation and greater value addition within Africa instead of exporting raw materials and importing finished products manufactured from the same resources.

The Alamein-Africa Business Forum brought together leaders and senior government officials from African countries, regional and international financial institutions, investors, businesspeople and corporate executives.

The forum seeks to strengthen trade, investment and cooperation among African governments, institutions and the private sector, while promoting economic integration, industrialisation and sustainable development across the continent.

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