US President Barack Obama

The United States has said Tanzania is well positioned to become a leader in low-carbon technologies if it utilises its enormous natural resources and fast-growing economy.

Robert Cunnane, Charge d’Affaires at the American Embassy in Dar es Salaam, said this in a statement yesterday following US President Barack Obama’s speech to the UN General Assembly currently in session in New York.

Obama addressed the 64th special UN summit on Tuesday organised to discuss a new international agreement to combat climate change. President Jakaya Kikwete was scheduled to deliver his speech yesterday.

“In the world of communications, many developing countries skipped the stage of expensive and often inaccessible wired phone service, going directly to mobile phones,” said Cunnane.

He added: “We can do the same in the world of energy – with the right support; developing countries can leapfrog dirty phases of development to low-carbon technologies and clean energy opportunities.”

He noted that Tanzania was blessed with enormous natural resources and a fast growing economy and was therefore “well positioned to make this leap and become a leader in low-carbon technologies”.

The US Embassy official said Americans stood with the people of Tanzania as the country sought a cleaner, more prosperous future and Washington was working closely with the Tanzanian government and development partners to make the vision a reality.

“We partner with local communities to improve management of natural resources and help families to prosper through reforestation, water resources management and forest conservation,” he said.

He saw the programmes having had a direct impact on reducing the threats of climate change, thus cementing the United States’ “clear intent” to secure a strong international agreement.