Zanzibar's Economic Growth Promising

BY ISSA YUSSUF, 15 MAY 2014

Zanzibar — THE Zanzibar government said that recent economic developments have been quite promising.

The State forecasts that economic growth will accelerate this year, a conducive scenario for envisaged development targets.

Presenting development plans for 2014/2015, Dr Mwinyihaji Haji Makame, the Minister for State in the President's Office (Good governance), said that there are several indicators for prosperity in the next fiscal year after a good track record last year.

"The government forecasts 7.8 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) growth this year, up from 7.4 per cent last year," Mr Makame informed the House.

He said that it is good for Zanzibar's strategy to meet the 2020 vision, the poverty reduction, millennium development goals (MDG), and basic reforms as par the CCM manifesto (2010-2015).

Economic predictions for a buoyant year is based on improving the Multi-sectoral Tourism Development Programme, business environment programme, resource mobilization strategy and strengthening Private Public Partnership (PPP).

"Political stability, peace, and hardwork; improving infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water, and telecommunication; growing skilled labour; improved farming including irrigation; and expected good weather, are other indicators for a good economy in the future," said the minister.

Mwadini said that inflation will remain at single digit and that the government's priorities in 2014/2015 include improving business environment, research, infrastructure development particularly airport, improving sea transport, social services: education, health, and water, and groups with special needs such as elderly people and people with disabilities.

The minister said that fishing, livestock development, increasing productivity of clove seedlings for farmers, climate change, and finding alternative sources of electricity are other areas of focus for the government in its ambition to meet development goals. He thanked development partners in supporting the programmes.