US Deputy Secretary of Treasury meets President Kikwete at Dar es Salaam State House announces $37.7million for Economic Stimulus to Tanzania

The United States Deputy Secretary of Treasury Neal Wolin announces during a press briefing that the US Government has authorised $37.7million for economic Stimulus to Tanzania during a meeting with President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete(seated Centre) and the Minister for Finance Mustafa Mkulo at State House Dar es Salaam today.

Deputy Secretary of the US Department of the Treasury Neal Wolin Post Meeting with President Kikwete Remarks

I am pleased to be here in Tanzania and to meet with President Kikwete, Finance Minister Mkullo and other senior officials to discuss ways in which Tanzania and the United States can continue to partner in the areas of agricultural development, financing for key infrastructure, and financial access for the poor.

As I underscored to both the President and Minister, the United States is determined to be a partner that supports Tanzania. As part of that effort, we will look to shine a light on African success stories and bring them to the attention of the U.S. public and U.S. investors. Too often in the United States, we view African countries through a lens of poverty, conflict, and hunger. This prevents us from seeing the progress being made on economic development across this continent.

Yesterday, for example, I spent the afternoon near Bagamoyo at an International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) cassava research station. This “golden crop,” as one farmer called it, has not been fully utilized here in Tanzania to date. But in Bagamoyo, they have a clear vision for its potential - the potential to boost yields and incomes by empowering farmers with the knowledge, skills, equipment and markets for processed cassava products.

And earlier today, I visited the National Food Reserve Agency, where the World Food Program - working with a wide range of partners in government, international organizations and the private sector - is conducting an innovative purchase program buying directly from small farmers.

Focusing on productivity and small holder farmers are critical aspects of President Obama’s commitment to devote at least $3.5 billion to food security worldwide in the next three years. As part of our efforts to boost the productivity of small holder farmers, we will find ways to support country-led agricultural strategies and work closely with other development partners, including the World Bank and African Development Bank.

In addition to that commitment - and consistent with our partnership goals - I am pleased to announce today a $37.7 million grant under the United States’ “Financial Crisis Initiative.” We’re providing this critical assistance in the wake of the global financial crisis with the goals of: 1) helping Tanzania’s poorest citizens -- many of whom are facing food shortages -- meet their daily food needs; and 2) strengthening the capacity of the Tanzanian government to respond to future crises.

This assistance will provide financing for a number of World Food Program-implemented programs including a school feeding program that will benefit 400,000 children in Tanzania. It will also allow a U.S. Treasury resident advisor support Bank of Tanzania efforts to strengthen IT systems and improve public financial management. And, it will support credits to help Tanzania’s small and medium enterprise center.

Finally, improving the infrastructure base here in Tanzania is another critical priority essential in achieving higher levels of sustainable growth. I’m very pleased to hear that implementation of the MCC Compact is moving forward and that construction on many of the Compact’s elements are slated to begin next year.

By strengthening and deepening our partnership in these areas, I believe we have an opportunity to help Tanzania continue to prosper for the benefit of all of her people and beyond.

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Msaada wa Fedha kukabiliana na Athari za Mgogoro wa Kiuchumi Duniani:

Tanzania yapokea Dola za Kimarekani milioni 37.7 kutoka Marekani kwa ajili ya Kuchochea Ukuaji wa Uchumi

Naibu Waziri wa Fedha wa Marekani atangaza Msaada huu katika Mkutano wake na Rais Kikwete uliofanyika Jumatatu

Toka kuanza kwa mgogoro wa kifedha wa kimataifa hali ya kiuchumi kwa mataifa mengi duniani imekuwa ngumu sana. Wakati ambapo mgogoro huu umeiathiri Marekani, bado watu wa Marekani wanaelewa kuwa athari zake kwa Tanzania ni kubwa zaidi.

Ili kupunguza makali ya athari hizo, Rais Obama na Bunge la Congress la Marekani limeidhinisha “Mpango wa Kukabiliana na Athari za Kuporomoka kwa Uchumi” (Financial Crisis Initiative) utakaogharimu kiasi cha Dola za Kimarekani milioni 37.7 utakaowanufaisha moja kwa moja watu masikini nchini Tanzania. Msaada huu ulitangazwa rasmi na Naibu Waziri wa Fedha wa Marekani Neal S. Wolin wakati wa mkutano wake na Rais Kikwete, Ikulu jijini Dar es Salaam hivi leo.

Mpango wa Chakula Duniani (WFP) unashirikiana na Shirika la Marekani la Maendeleo ya Kimataifa (USAID) katika kusimamia jitihada hizo. Ushirikiano huu unadhihirisha azma ya dhati ya Marekani ya kushirikiana na Umoja wa Mataifa na wafadhili wengine katika kusaidia jitihada za maendeleo za Tanzania.

"Marekani inafarijika sana kufanya kazi na nchi za Kiafrika zenye azma ya dhati ya kujiletea maendeleo kama Tanzania, kuzisaidia kuweza kuvuka kipindi hiki kigumu cha mgogoro wa fedha na kuanguka kwa uchumi wa dunia na hatimaye kuwa na ustawi katika miaka ijayo," alisema Naibu Waziri Wolin. "Tunatarajia kuimarika zaidi kwa ubia wetu na Tanzania katika maeneo na nyanja mbalimbali kutoka kuhamasisha maendeleo ya kilimo hadi kutoa misaada ya kitaalamu."

Benki ya Dunia na Shirika la Fedha la Kimataifa wamekadiria kuwa athari za mgogoro wa kifedha dunia zitasababisha kupungua kwa kasi ya ukuaji wa uchumi wa Tanzania kwa zaidi ya asilimia 7 katika mwaka 2008 na kati ya asilimia 4 na 5 katika mwaka 2009.

Ikiwa tayari zaidi ya Watanzania 40,000 wamepoteza ajira zao, ni wazi kuwa watu masikini ndio wanaoathiriwa zaidi na kuporomoka huku kwa uchumi. Kwa sababu hiyo mpango huu wa kuchochea ukuaji wa uchumi unamlenga moja kwa moja mwananchi na kuunga mkono jitihada za hivi sasa za Tanzania za kuchochea ukuaji wa uchumi katika maeneo ya vijijini na kuongeza uzalishaji wa chakula.

Watoto ndio wanaoathiriwa zaidi na tatizo la upungufu wa chakula. Lishe bora mashuleni huwasaidia watoto kufanya vizuri zaidi katika masomo yao na kuzipunguzia mzigo familia zao kutokana na kupanda mno kwa bei za vyakula.

Msaada huu utaiwezesha WFP kutoa milo miwili kwa siku kwa mwaka mzima kwa watoto 400,000 walio katika shule za msingi zipatazo 600 katika maeneo yaliyokumbwa na ukame katika mikoa ya Arusha, Manyara, Dodoma na Singida. WFP itatoa pia chakula kwa wanafunzi katika maeneo yaliyoathiriwa na kuporomoka kwa bei ya mazao na bidhaa za biashara kama vile pamba, maua, kahawa na vito vya thamani.

Mpango huu utasaidia pia kupunguza athari za kupungua kwa fursa za ajira kwa kutoa fursa za ajira za muda kwa maelfu ya Watanzania kutoka katika kaya masikini zaidi.

Mpango huu wa kutoa ajira utalenga zaidi jamii za vijijini kwa kutoa ujira kwa wananchi watakaofanya kazi za kuboresha mifumo ya umwagiliaji na usambazaji wa maji safi, kupanda miti, kujenga maghala ya chakula na kukarabati barabara za vijijini.

Katika jamii za wafugaji, mpango huu utasaidia ujenzi wa mabwawa, kuandaa maeneo maalumu ya malisho ya mifugo ili kuinenepesha na kuimarisha upatikanaji wa masoko.

Maeneo ya Usimamizi wa Wanyamapori yaliyoathirika kutokana na kupungua kwa mapato yatokanayo na utalii yatafaidika kwa kuanzishwa kwa vikosi maalumu vya uhifadhi (Conservation Corp).

Wanavijiji wataajiriwa ili kujenga barabara, vituo vya askari wa wanyama pori, kuweka alama za mipaka, kutangaza na kusimamia miundombinu itakayowawezesha kuendesha miradi ya kijamii ya utalii yenye tija na iliyo endelevu.

Sekta ya uzalishaji maua na mbogamboga (horticulture) nchini Tanzania, ambayo imeajiri zaidi ya wafanyakazi 10,000 na kuingiza zaidi ya Dola za Kimarekani milioni 50 itasaidiwa kwa kupitia msaada utakaotolewa kwa Chama cha Wakulima wa Maua, Matunda na Mboga (TAHA) na wanachama wake ambao wengi wao ni wakulima wadogo wadogo wanawake.

Aidha, msaada utatolewa kwa wafanyabiashara wanaouza mazao hayo nje ya nchi wanaohitaji mikopo ili kufufua na kuendeleza biashara zao na hivyo kuokoa ajira ya Watanzania.

Sera nzuri za fedha na uchumi ni kipengele muhimu cha uimara wa uchumi kwa kipindi kirefu.Msaada wa kukabiliana na athari za kuanguka kwa uchumi unaotolewa na watu wa Marekani utaisaidia Serikali ya Tanzania kufuatilia athari za kuporomoka kwa uchumi na kujenga msingi imara kwa kuhimili misukosuko ya kiuchumi katika siku zijazo.

Kwa msaada kutoka Idara ya Misaada ya Kiufundi ya Wizara ya Fedha ya Marekani, Serikali ya Tanzania itaweza kuboresha mfumo wake wa upashanaji habari ili uwe na ufanisi na kuwezesha usimamizi wa fedha za umma wenye ufanisi na uwazi zaidi – hii ni pamoja na kuimarisha uwezo wa kufikisha kwa haraka zaidi rasilimali fedha katika maeneo yanayokabiliwa na upungufu wa chakula ambayo yametawanyika sana kijiografia.

Mbali na Mpango huu wa kubabiliana na athari za kuporomoka kwa uchumi duniani, USAID itashirikiana na mabenki ya hapa nchini katika kutoa mikopo yenye thamani ya hadi Dola za Kimarekani milioni 10 kwa ajili ya mitaji kwa shughuli za biashara inayohusisha kilimo na mazao ya kilimo, ikiwa ni pamoja na kusaidia zaidi ya wazalishaji na wajasiriamali wadogo na kaya 1000 kwa kupitia taratibu za mikopo zenye masharti nafuu (micro-finance) katika kipindi cha miaka mitano ili kukuza uzalishaji na kuongeza uhakika wa chakula.

Ili kukuza manufaa ya ubia huu kwa uchumi wa Tanzania, angalau makampuni 50 ya Kitanzania yatahusishwa katika ununuzi na usambazaji wa chakula, usafirishaji na ubunifu na usimamizi wa uboreshaji wa miundombinu ya vijijini.

Tanzania ni mojawapo kati ya nchi nane zitakazopatiwa zaidi ya Dola za Kimarekani milioni 255 chini ya mpango huu wa kukabiliana na athari za kuanguka kwa uchumi. Nchi nyingine za Kiafrika zitakazopatiwa msaada huu ni Ghana, Liberia na Zambia.