TWO TO TANGO
TBY talks to Raymond P. Mbilinyi, Executive Secretary of Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC), on its work to support the private sector in the country, tackling challenges in the economy, and clamping down on corruption.
BIOGRAPHY
Raymond P. Mbilinyi is the Executive Secretary of TNBC. He is a professional engineer, with a BSc in engineering, a certified project manager, and a professional marketer with an MBA in marketing and over 18 years of professional experience in Africa. He has gained extensive experience in both public and private organizations, and for international organizations such as the World Bank, UNIDO, and BP. He also served as Vice-President of the World Investment Promotion Agencies Association (WAIPA) until December 2012. Currently, he is a Board Member of Tanzania Industries Licensing Board (BRELA), Victoria Microfinance Co., and the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF).What is the principal mission of the council, and how does it work to achieve this?
The TNBC was established by presidential decree in 2001 and was first formed in 2002 as a way of bringing together the government and private sector to discuss how best to support the private sector in the country. When we moved from a central economy to a market-led economy, it was decided that the private sector would be the engine of the economy and the government the facilitator. When his Excellency President John Pombe Magufuli came to power in 2015, as the Chairman of the Council he appointed the third council, which was inaugurated in April, that met for the 10th TNBC meeting. The council has 40 members: 18 from the private sector, representing sub sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and others; the labor union; government ministries; the governor of the Bank of Tanzania; and prominent members from academia. The purpose of the council first and foremost is to brainstorm how best to improve the business environment and competitiveness of this country, lowering the costs of doing business, enabling the growth of medium and small businesses, as well as larger companies, and ultimately attracting more foreign and domestic investment. A foreign investor will always ask a domestic investor about business in Tanzania; therefore, it is important to improve conditions for those companies that are already here.
What was on the agenda at the 10th TNBC meeting?
We had three main agenda points: Tanzania's business environment, private sector participation in industrialization, and strengthening the links between agriculture and industrialization. On the former, we tackled several different challenges that active businesses currently face, including a lack of access to land and underdeveloped human capital. On the latter two issues, we looked closely at how to fill in the gaps in our agricultural production, through irrigation projects, greater availability of fertilizer, improved small scale and commercial farmer linkages, and the best possible methods of value addition in agriculture. Elsewhere, we also discussed opportunities in tourism, currently contributing 17.5% to the GDP, with the potential to contribute much more. Currently, we welcome 2 million tourists on average each year; however, by reducing the costs for tourists entering the country—through more competitive rates for transportation and accommodation—we could double or even quadruple that number. On this front, we explored the various ways to fast track the improvements planned for Air Tanzania.
What was the response from the public sector regarding progress made to these ends?
Prime Minster Hon Kassim Majaliwa directed Tanzania Port Authority to have 24 hours operations to increase efficiency and reduce congestion at the port. The various ministers present at the council meeting reported on the respective progress made. At the moment, the Ministry of Land is working to expedite titling procedures, both for investment and housing. The Ministry of Agriculture revealed plans for the bulk procurement of fertilizer to minimize costs while the Ministry of Local Government explained how it will link small traders with the appropriate infrastructure, designating spaces for marketeering complete with all the necessary facilities.
What about the private sector?
It takes two to tango, and the private sector also has a role to play. When we talk about economic corruption, often there is a preconception that the fault lies mostly with the public sector. However, it behooves the private sector as well to tackle corruption in Tanzania. Private businesses have benefited from the fifth government's tackling of corruption, bureaucracy, and the cost of doing business. At the end of the meeting, the chairman requested that TNBC prepare the matrix relating to the various concerns raised by the private sector that came under discussion, as well as allocate chief responsibilities and confirm the timeframe for completion. The 10th TNBC meeting was a great success as it reaffirmed the commitment of the fifth government phase of private-sector development in Tanzania.
TWO TO TANGO
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Guest Speaker
Hon. Patricia Scotland, Secretary General, Commonwealth of Nations
TBY talks to Hon. Patricia Scotland, Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, on the advantages of being a member of the Commonwealth, the need to celebrate diversity, and Tanzania's war against corruption.
read articleGuest Speaker
Libérat Mfumukeko, Secretary-General, East African Community (EAC)
TBY talks to Libérat Mfumukeko, Secretary-General of the East African Community (EAC), on Tanzania's importance to the EAC, the major achievements of regional integration, and obstacles ahead of a monetary union.
read articleInterview
Raymond P. Mbilinyi, Executive Secretary , Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC)
TBY talks to Raymond P. Mbilinyi, Executive Secretary of Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC), on its work to support the private sector in the country, tackling challenges in the economy, and clamping down on corruption.
read articleReview: Banking
The Quest for Depth
If Tanzania is to meet its 2025 vision of attaining middle-income status, it will need to corral its bank-centric financial and capital markets for greater depth by extending participation and rendering credit more accessible to SMEs, women, and the young to spur economic growth.
read articleInterview
Dr. Baghayo A. Saqware, Commissioner , Insurance, Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA)
TBY talks to Dr. Baghayo A. Saqware, Commissioner of Insurance, Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA), on achieving universal healthcare coverage, the brilliance of microinsurance, and how to partner with public and private entities to increase the industry's penetration.
read articleReview
Legal Thunder
With the stepping down of Minister of Energy and Minerals Sospeter Muhongo in May 2017 over transparency issues and the introduction of three new laws that give the government the right to renegotiate or revoke existing mining and oil and gas rights, private players in the country are unsure of what future lies ahead. On the other hand, project-specific developments bode well for a sector in need of a breakthrough.
read articleInterview
Kapuulya Musomba, Managing Director, Tanzania Petroleum Development Company (TPDC)
TBY talks to Kapuulya Musomba, Acting Managing Director of Tanzania Petroleum Development Company (TPDC), on the planned expansion of the Mtwara-Dar es Salaam natural gas pipeline, entering northern industrial hubs, and empowering nascent industries.
read articleInterview
Marc Den Hartog, Managing Director, Shell/BG Tanzania
TBY talks to Marc Den Hartog, Managing Director of Shell/BG Tanzania, on the critical need for economies of scale, the importance of developing LNG for export, and why renewables must be taken into account in any long-term plan.
read articleInterview
Hon. Charles Mwijage, Minister, Industry, Trade and Investment
TBY talks to Hon. Charles Mwijage, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, on how to reach middle-income status, employing the private sector toward this end, and what sets the country apart from the rest of East Africa.
read articleFocus: Helium
Discoveries of Magna-tude
Despite being the second most common element in the universe, helium is in short supply on earth. With global reserves of the gas steadily dwindling, and demand steadily increasing, the discovery of a whopping 1.53 billion cbm of helium in underground chambers in Tanzania could not have come at a better moment.
read articleInterview
Gilliard W. Ngewe, Director General, Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Agency (SUMATRA)
TBY talks to Gilliard W. Ngewe, Director General of Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Agency (SUMATRA), on transportation budget allocation and cross-sector dialog and partnerships.
read articleInterview
Jared H. Zerbe, CEO, Tanzania International Container Terminal Services Limited (TICTS)
TBY talks to Jared H. Zerbe, CEO of Tanzania International Container Terminal Services Limited (TICTS), on regional trade flows and Tanzania's potential to take a leading role in orchestrating cargo movement.
read articleFocus: Tanzania Strategic Cities Project (TSCP)
East Africa’s “Geneva”
If Rome wasn't built in a day, it is not surprising that Tanzania's project to revamp eight of its largest cities is entering its eighth year of implementation. A release of further funds from the World Bank has given the project a new lease of life.
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Lost in the Maize
Agriculture accounts for 30% of Tanzania's GDP, and the sector has experienced above-average output in recent years compared to the rest of the African continent. However, the sector's development is held back by poor rural farming practices and general infrastructure bottlenecks.
read articleInterview
Fred Kafeero, Tanzania Representative, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
TBY talks to Fred Kafeero, Tanzania Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), on the organization's long-term support for Tanzania's development, recent initiatives in agriculture, and financing.
read articleFocus: 2020 Irrigation Target
Reap What You Sow
In 2006, the Tanzanian Ministry of Water and Irrigation set a target for Tanzania's agriculture sector: to irrigate 1 million ha of land by 2020. More than 10 years on and moving ever closer to the deadline, this target has not yet been met, though the first seeds are being sown.
read articleFocus: Southern Circuit Tourism
Hidden Gems
Tourism is frequently described as the jewel in Tanzania's economic crown. In 2016 alone, the industry contributed over USD2 billion in revenues. However, for at least three years, the government has expressed concern that tourism is not well distributed across the country.
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