Waziri wa Fedha Mhe. Dkt. Wiliam Mgimwa akisoma hotuba baada ya kusaini mikataba mitatu ya jumla ya shilingi bilioni 341 huku akishuhudiwa na ujumbe wa Benki ya Dunia ukiongozwa na Mwakilishi Mkazi wa Benki ya Dunia Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda na Burundi Bw. Philippe Dongier.
Waziri wa Fedha Mhe Dkt. Wiliam Mgimwa pamoja na Mwakilishi Mkazi wa Benki ya Dunia Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda na Burundi Bw. Philippe Dongier wakijadiliana jambo kabla ya kusaini mikataba hiyo.
Ujumbe wa Tanzania waliohudhuria utiaji saini mikataba hiyo mitatu.
STATEMENT BY HON. DR. WILLIAM A. MGIMWA, MINISTER FOR FINANCE, MINISTRY OF FINANCE, AT THE SIGNING CEREMONY OF THREE LOAN AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA AND THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (IDA) HELD ON 18TH APRIL, 2013 WASHINGTON DC.
Mr. Philippe Dongier,
World Bank Country Director for Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1. Mr. Country Director, please allow me, on behalf of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania to express my gratitude for this opportunity of signing with you today, three Loan Agreements namely: (i) the Tenth Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC-10) in the amount of US$ 75 Million (equivalent to TZS 119.9 billion), (ii) the First Power and Gas Sector Development Policy Financing in the amount of US$ 100 Million (equivalent to TZS 159.8 billion) and (iii) the Energy Sector Capacity Building Project (ESCBP) in the amount of US$ 21.46 Million (equivalent to TZS 34.3 billion) .
Indeed, the Government appreciates the World Bank’s support which comes at a time when the Government is in critical need of such interventions to address power problems and sustain key reforms in the energy sector as part of overall efforts to reduce poverty in Tanzania through effective implementation of the Second National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction – MKUKUTA II.
This event once again evidences the commitment and important role that the World Bank plays in the social and economic development in Tanzania.
I wish to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for this continued support.
2. Mr. Country Director, the Loans we have signed today will complement domestic resources in the implementation of activities that will contribute to economic development of the people of Tanzania.
Waziri wa Fedha Mhe. Dkt. Wiliam Mgimwa akisaini mojawapo ya mikataba ambapo Serikali ya Tanzania imepata bilioni 341.
As you well know, the Tanzania Tenth Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC-10) is the second in a series of three annual programmatic development policy operations i.e (PRSC-9 to PSRC-11) to support the implementation of the Second National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction – MKUKUTA II, complimented by the Five Year Development Plan I (FYDP I) as an operational tool. The current PSRC series (PSRC-9 to PRSC-11) has the following two pillars:
• Public Finance Pillar, focusing on “ensuring macroeconomic stability and promoting shared growth through sound management of public finance”; and
• Investment Climate Pillar, focusing on improving the investment climate in selected strategic areas in order to improve competitiveness and shared growth in the country by leveraging its geographical advantage and facilitating agglomeration effects”.
3. The First Power and Gas Development Policy Operation, is the first in a series of three annual Programmatic Development Policy Operations (FY 2012/13, FY 2013/14 and FY 2014/15).
The objectives of the program are to: (i) strengthen the country’s ability to bridge the financial gap in its power sector by improving the operational efficiency of TANESCO; (ii) reduce the cost of power supply and promote private sector participation in the power sector; and (iii) strengthen the policy and institutional framework for the management of the country’s natural gas resources.
Implementation of the programme is also intended to improve the business environment by better meeting demand for reliable and cost efficient energy. It also seeks to contribute to social inclusion, environmental management and improved governance in the power sector.
4. Mr. Country Director, the development objective of the Energy Sector Capacity Building Project is to strengthen the capacity of the Government to develop: (i) its natural gas sector and (ii) PPPs for the power generation sector.
The project has five components: (A) Petroleum Policy and Legal Framework, (B) Strengthening Institutional Sector Management, Coordination and Governance, (C) Education & Skills Development, (D) Larger Power Generation and Natural Gas PPP Projects Capacity Building, and (E) Project Coordination.
Successful implementation of each of these components will enhance government capacity to better manage developments in the energy sector.
Waziri wa Fedha Mhe Dkt. Wiliam Mgimwa pamoja na Mwakilishi Mkazi wa Benki ya Dunia Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda na Burundi Bw. Philippe Dongier wakitia saini mikataba hiyo.
5. Mr. Country Director, the preparation of these Loans and the three program/project documents from design stage up-to this signing stage has involved many people and long hours of hard work to discuss and negotiate various aspects and provision of the Loans and projects.
On behalf of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, allow me to thank you personally for your efforts in ensuring that the process was concluded in time. I also want to thank all other people who were involved in the process who worked so hard in order to make it possible for these agreements to be signed today. I would urge you to sustain that spirit.
Finally let me conclude by re-affirming the Government’s commitment to sustaining reforms in order to achieve the MKUKUTA II objectives and to address the power sector problems. Further, I also want to reassure you of our continued commitment towards strengthening the partnership and friendly relationship between Tanzania and the World Bank.
Thank you all once again for your kind attention.