President Jakaya Kikwete reaffirmed yesterday the government’s commitment to remove hurdles to investments, industrial development and business opportunities.
Officiating at the opening of the 30th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) in Dar es Salaam, President Kikwete said his government was aware of the obstacles and was set to crush them.
Attending his first DITF as head of state, the President said he was aware of the problems frustrating investments.
He said the government knows its required role in solving the problems facing the industrial sector, including lack of sufficient power, water, and transportation facilities.
’’I would like to assure all investors of my continued support in solving these problems,’’ the President pledged.
He said he was concerned over a recent World Bank (WB) report which placed Tanzania on the list of countries with very high costs of running businesses in the world.
’’I visited the World Bank President,Paul Wolfowitz, in his office recently� I was very disappointed to see the name of our country on the list of very high operations costs,’’ he noted.
The President welcomed constructive comments and criticism from different stakeholders in the business sector.
He also called for support from the business community in supplementing government’s efforts to increase production and productivity, develop the industrial sector and ultimately industrialize the country.
In achieving this target, the President said his government would focus on the establishment of special economic zones and export processing zones.
As regards this year’s international trade fair, President Kikwete said he was particularly encouraged by the development achieved over the last three decades, notably the introduction of new products and technologies, and the increasing participation of local entrepreneurs.
Tanzania,
is a country on the east coast of east Africa. 
