DISTRICT, municipal and city councils have been advise to set aside pockets of land specific for investors to establish small scale industries.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for the disabled, Stella Ikupa said in Dar es Salaam last weekend that such areas should also have proper infrastructure so that private investors should consider them as viable land banks for commercial purposes.

“District and Regional Commissioners should make sure that councils should set aside special areas for investment purposes such as construction of small scale industries in line with government plans,” Ikupa said while inaugurating a Tanzania Entrepreneurship and Competitive Centre (TECC) new board of trustees.

She advised TECC’s new board of trustees to ensure that it works with local authorities to have such land banks where industries will be erected so that youth should get jobs but also start their own small scale industries to fight poverty and unemployment.

The new board of trustees which is chaired by National Economic Empowerment Council’s Executive Director, Beng’i Issa and has Professor Burton Mwamila, Francis Nanai, Sophia Mbeyela and Edward as members was also required to make sure that youth are trained in entrepreneurship and competitiveness.

On her part, TECC Chairperson, Issa reiterated that her board of trustees will continue working with the management in advancing interests of youth and entrepreneurs to be competitive in the market through training, mentorship and financing where possible.

“Today the founders of this centre have handed over duties to the new board of trustees who consists of renowned academicians from various universities and experienced entrepreneurs in the country,” Issa added.

She assured Ikupa and the entire government that the TECC’s new board has what is needed to ensure that entrepreneurship and competitive skills and knowledge are imparted to youth in the country especially those were unable to go through formal education largely because their families are poor.

The centre which was founded by Tanzania Private Sector Foundation, Commission of Science and Technology and National Economic Empowerment Council has been collaborating with other stakeholders such as International Youths Foundation, Small Industrial Development Organization, Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture and Presidential Trust Fund in training and mentoring youth and give them access to capital through Via Jiandalie Ajira and Kijana Jiajiri programmes.

TECC’s Mentor Manager, Daniel Mghwira pledged that management will work closely with the board and other stakeholders to ensure that they advance development of entrepreneurship and competitiveness among youths.

“Our institution has a historic background in this area with extraordinary achievements attained in the last few years and we intend to continue along this path of spearheading entrepreneurship and competiveness among small :

Source IPP Media

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