Mengi urges Pakistanis to invest in Tanzania
 
2005-08-16 08:44:19
By Judica Tarimo

	Chairman of CTI Reginald Mengi gives a piece of cake to Javaria Sattar, a student at Al Mutazir Seminary, during a function organised to mark Pakistan’s 58th independence anniversary at New Africa Hotel, Dar es Salaam, on Sunday evening. (Photos: Muhidin Sufiani)

The Chairman of the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI), Reginald Mengi, has pledged full support to potential investors and businessmen and women from Pakistan.

He gave the assurance at the official celebrations to mark 58 years of Pakistan’s independence held in Dar es Salaam on Sunday night attended by Pakistani nationals and other diplomats living and working in Tanzania.

Mengi, who is also IPP Executive Chairman said: ”CTI welcomes investors from Pakistan…doors are open for you. Our country has huge investment and business opportunities.”

The CTI boss hailed great achievements recorded by Pakistan on the economy, infrastructure and education sectors since it attained its independence from British colonial powers 58 years ago.

”Today, Pakistan has built a tarmac road network connecting urban and rural areas. Generally, road infrastructure in Pakistan is superb,” said Mengi.

Improved road transport systems, he said, have helped to ease the movement of people, goods and services from one place to another, thus contributing to economic development.

Pakistan has also made substantial progress in the education sector and this contributed to produce more experts and specialists to speed up the country’s development, noted the CTI Chairman.

Said he: ”I am told that apart from free education at all levels, Pakistan has gone to the extent of paying girls in order to encourage them to go to school.”

He commended Pakistan’s science and technology students who went for training in the United States of America and other parts of the world and came back to develop their country.

”They were trained using taxpayers’ money and came back home. That’s why today Pakistan is one of the world’s nuclear powers because of these students,” Mengi said, calling on Tanzanian students to emulate the example.

Pakistan’s economy, according to the CTI Chairman, has been growing every year, a positive trend that is attributable to the country’s strong leadership.

”Your decision to refuse aid and financial assistance from the World Bank and International Momentary Fund (IMF) demonstrated your firm commitment to develop your own economy,” he said.

Mengi added: ”Foreign aid cannot develop a country, but makes it more dependent.

Pakistan’s decision to depend on your own is very commendable.”

Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the Welfare Association of Pakistan, Mohamed Anwar Khan, said their independence was a result of tireless struggles, fighting and sacrifices by leaders and people of Pakistan.

”It was not easy, people fought for it and managed to defeat the colonial powers,” he said. ”There were many lives lost in the struggle against the colonialists,” he added.

Khan took the opportunity to congratulate Mengi for being elected the Chairman of CTI.

He said his presence in the body would assist to improve business and investment environment in Tanzania.

• SOURCE: Guardian