Oil pipeline project to generate jobs

 

THE East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) members have challenged Tanga regional authorities to exploit the opportunities that arise from the construction of the crude oil pipeline by coming up with a strategic investment profile that will attract prospective investors.

The construction of the 1,403-kilometre pipeline that will transport crude oil from Hoima in Uganda to Tanga Port in Tanzania is expected to be completed by June 2020 and will provide 1,500 direct and 20,000 indirect jobs. 

 

The East African lawmakers, who were on a one-day tour of the region, said that it was the responsibility of the regional authorities to prepare the investment profile and sell it to investors within and outside the regional bloc.

EALA Member, Mr Adam Kimbisa, said that Tanga Region was lucky to have the crude oil pipeline project, thus it should adopt strategies that will ensure that the project will benefit both residents in the region as well as the nation.

The legislators visited the Tanzania-Kenya border post of Horohoro in order to learn how Tanzanians have started enjoying the benefits of the regional block. Mr Kimbisa said that EAC should bring positive changes to the lives of local people through the implementation of the regional protocol.

He said Tanga residents would benefit from employments and other direct and indirect social services. The delegation chairman, Mr Makongoro Nyerere, said that the common market was among the protocols which have been signed, therefore, Tanzanians should use that protocol effectively in order to benefit from the favourable trade environment.

He said the measure should go hand in hand with creation of conducive environment for investment by selling and advertising potential areas for the investment in the region, something which could be facilitated by having written documents like brochures and booklets.

However, responding to the challenge, Tanga Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Ms Zena Saidi, told the legislators that the regional authority was aware of the opportunities and had already started to prepare economic development profiles at both regional and district levels.

"We have already issued directives to all districts to prepare economic development profiles and from there we can have a good regional economic development profile ...we have a good vision to make sure that many investors come to Tanga and residents benefit from the investments," she said.

Earlier, the Tanga Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Martin Shigela, had briefed the legislators that the security of the region was stable, thus doors were open for prospective investors.

He, however, said that the region was currently keen on stopping transportation of goods through illegal routes. He vowed to continue searching for offending businessmen in a bid to ensure that they abide by laws and pay taxes to the government.