|
Kikwete to rich states: Support our economy
2006-09-22 09:09:38
By Guardian Correspondent, New York
The government has appealed to industrialised nations to support Tanzania’s economic reforms in a bid to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Addressing the 61st Session of the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, President Jakaya Kikwete called for international support to improve infrastructure, agro-industries and human resource development for it to achieve MGDs.
President Kikwete said Tanzania was on the right track towards achieving the MDGs, but it needed more support from the international community.
’’For this to happen, however, we need international support to scale up our infrastructure, capacity for value addition and human capital development,’’ the president said.
He said that taking into account the role the private sector plays in economic growth; Tanzania had implemented far-reaching policy and institutional reforms to create a conducive environment for business.
’’The Work Bank’s 2007 Doing Business Report recognises Tanzania as one of the best reforming countries in the world. Therefore, Tanzania has again fulfilled its commitments under the Global Compact,’’ he said.
\”We call upon our development partners to augment our efforts and the private sector to respond positively,’’ he added.
He said he would continue to sustain the achievements made by his predecessors, retired presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Benjamin Mkapa, in maintaining unity, peace, economic and political stability.
He said he would redouble national efforts to uphold and strengthen good governance, respect for human rights and rule of law as well as intensify the fight against corruption.
’’We feel honoured in this regard that, the Global Organisation of Parliamentarians against Corruption decided to hold their second global conference in Arusha, Tanzania, in recognition of our efforts,’’ Kikwete said.
He said similarly, Tanzania had emerged as one of the ’’best practice cases’’ in terms of ownership of the development agenda and the harmonisation and co-ordination of development assistance.
’’This is a policy and practice I will advance during my tenure in the hope that it will add to the realisation of the theme of this General Assembly - Implementing a Global Partnership for Development,’’ he said.
Explaining on peace making process in the Great Lakes Region of Africa, the President said that the country was committed to achieving a long term goal of peaceful neighbourhood because it had been suffering from huge influx of refugees.
’’For a long time Tanzania has suffered the consequences of conflict and instability in the region, including hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees, destruction of infrastructure and environment and the time and resources deployed in facilitating conflict resolution,’’ he said.
He said significant progress had been achieved in the political and security situation in the Great Lakes Region of Africa.
’’We appreciate the support the United Nations and other partners in the regional peace process. Tanzania welcomes and commends the government of Burundi and the FNL for finally signing the cease-fire agreement,’’ he said.
Likewise, he commended the government, the major political actors as well as the people of Democratic Republic of Congo for holding the long-awaited elections.
’’We urge that the forthcoming second round of elections be conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner. Tanzania as Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security will play its role in support of this process,’’ he said.
Regarding peace and security trends elsewhere in Africa, President Kikwete said peace seemed to have eluded the world as reports of wars and violent conflicts are headline news in international media.
’’Unfortunately Africa, the poorest of the continent has had an unfair share of conflict. Like other delegates, we express our concern for the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur and call for continued regional and international community’s engagement,’’ he said.
|
