INVESTOR’S FORUM FOR LAKE ZONE TO BE HELD FEBRUARY, 2014.

By. Atley Kuni- Mwanza.

MWANZA region is expected to host a historic and grand investors’ forum, which is to be held in February 2014, next year, this is coming after postpone first time table which was to be held November 14 to 16 this year.

The forum, expected to be chaired by President Jakaya Kikwete of United Republic of Tanzania, will involve six regions of Mwanza, Kagera, Geita, Shinyanga, Simiyu and Mara.

According to Mwanza Regional Commissioner Evarist Ndikilo, the forum is to make public areas that need serious investors in the area, which is very rich in varied natural resources, which are yet to be tapped.

“It is our hope that this forum will attract more investors in the lake zone regions,” RC Ndikilo said, when speaking to Kuninews.

“This important forum is expected to involve both local and foreign investors as well as envoys, who represent their countries in Tanzania,” he said, calling for more serious investors to take part in the historic meeting.

The forum is also expected to involve different stakeholders from all walks of life from within and outside Tanzania such as local banks, the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB), Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) and the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) with the aim of showing them various investment opportunities in our regions. 

Engineer Ndikilo disclosed that, the forum that will attract more than 3,000 local and international stakeholders.

“The forum also targeted to see huge investments that will improve the economic situation in the region besides raising its per capita income,” Ndikilo said, adding that if well promoted Lake Zone   is going to be a regional hub for manufacturing and trade development in the east and central Africa.

“So, this forum will make region contribute handsomely to the country’s GDP, compared to the current 9.5 percent after Dar es Salaam of 16 percent,” Ndikilo added. 

Lake Zone regions are very rich in different types of minerals such as gold, diamond and the likes. Mwanza, Mara and Kagera are very rich in fisheries taking into account they are located close to the Africa’s largest lake, the Lake Victoria.
Mwanza region alone lies between latitudes 103o’ and 3o 0’ south of the Equator and the longitudes 31o 45’ and 34o 10’ east of Greenwich.

“Tourism is another area that we want to sell to local and foreign investors. Our geographical location gives us other milestones in tourism industry. More specifically, the presence of Saanane Island National Park give much hope for the growth of tourism in this area,” the RC said