BY SYLIVESTER DOMASA
24th February 2015
Tanzania is among the few nations that India is considering for its recently launched ‘Tourist Visa on Arrival’ programme.
India’s visa processes are typically intricate and introduction of the 30-day visa upon arrival for nearly 50 countries has now made things easier.
Speaking during the visit of a high level delegation of Federation of Gujarat Industries to Tanzania organised by the High Commissioner of India in collaboration with Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture the envoy, Debnath Shaw confirmed that his government was working on the plan.
At the conference, the Indian High Commissioner to Tanzania told the delegation that there had been positive improvements on the level of economic interactions between the two countries citing the volume of trade between Tanzania and India doubled to nearly $4billion from $1.5billion in 2013. “For the last two and a half years that I have been in the country, I have witnessed total trade registering increase to USD4billion from USD1.5billion,” he said and noted that import from India to Tanzania amounts to USD2.674billion while Tanzania’s export to India recorded $1.23billion.
“It’s the first time export has crossed the $1billion mark. This potential has been realised and there is still more … we target to close a $5billion mark in total trade come 2017,” he said and also underscored that local investments from India to Tanzania have also reached the tune of USD2billion.
According to the Commissioner, the visit by the Indian business delegation to Tanzania is meant to expand business, trade and investment ties with their counterparts.
Amit Patel, President of the Federation of Gujarat Industries detailed that the business delegation is comprised of 15 company representatives from the electrical and energy sector, pharmaceutical sector, engineering and manufacturing sector, chemical and agriculture sector as well as the real estate sector.
Patel further expressed concerns over the customary duty imposed in the East African Regional describing it as a big threat towards expanding manufacturing industries in the country.
He proposed for adopting a zero custom duty policy to enable local manufacturing companies to prosper and maintained that it is easy to manufacture abroad and import goods than produce in the country, a stand promoters of local manufacturing industries would dispute.
Chairman for Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) Dar es Salaam region Francis Lukwaro said the business meeting will offer opportunity to Tanzanians to learn and interact with their Indian counterparts.
“We’re looking forward to connect the delegation with senior managers for Tanroads and Tanesco in quest to help address their anomalies they face in the country,” he said.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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