Finnish Delegation in Dar to tour Mtwara and Lindi

By TAGIE DAISY MWAKAWAGO

A nineteen member delegation of the Finnish Government is set to begin a four-day official tour today in Dar es Salaam and Mtwara regions.

A statement issued in Dar es salaam by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, states that the tour aims at evaluating economic and social projects supported by the Finnish government.

The Finnish government is supporting a number of projects in Mtwara and Lindi, including a Masasi high quality cashew semi-processing factory, a factory started off by the Dutch and received support from Finnish development project.

The delegation, which includes Finnish members of parliament, ministry of foreign affairs officers, ministry of finance Officers and some representatives from the private sectors, will also get an opportunity to experience the life and livelihoods of the local community.

While in Dar es salaam, the Finnish team will participate in the opening ceremony of the Dar es salaam-Teknohama Business Incubators (DTBi) and official launch of Bilateral co-operation project for Tanzanians and ICT sector (TANZICT), in an effort to strengthen information industry.

Also present at the opening ceremony are Hon. Prof. Makame Mbarawa, Minister for Communication, Science and Trade, Hon. Dr. Cyril Chami, Minister for Industry and Trade, Ms. Anne Sipiläinen, Under-Secretary of State, Development Cooperation and Policy in the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ms. Sinikka Antila, Ambassador of Finland in Tanzania.

The statement further states that the group will depart on November 1st from Julius Kambarage Nyerere International Airport, heading for Masasi in Mtwara Region.

While in Masasi, the Group will visit a factory supplier of cashew nuts run by Intersnack Ltd, a Finnish development cooperation project sponsored by District Economic and Social Empowerment Project (DESEMP).

Tanzania and Finland have a long standing relation for many years, with bilateral development aid totalled at 34 million euros in the year 2010, and expected to increase to approximately 40 million euros in the year 2011. Finland’s projects in Tanzania include forestry and environment, agriculture and bio-energy, innovation and technology (ICT).

In trade and economic relations, currently Finland exports machineries, transport equipments and fertilizers, while Tanzania exports mainly coffee and tea.