KENYA, BRAZIL NOD TO ATCL REVIVAL

BRAZIL and Kenya yesterday hailed efforts by the government to revive the cash-strapped Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL), describing the move as a major step towards boosting the country’s economy.

The Ambassadors of Brazil and Kenya to Tanzania, Mr Carlos Alfonso Puente and Chirau Ali Makwere, respectively, lauded the purchase of new planes for the airline to improve the company’s service delivery to domestic and international air travellers.

The praises come as the government embarks on a number of plans to purchase more aircraft for the national flag carrier. President John Magufuli announced recently that he intends to purchase three more aircraft, bringing to five the total number of new planes from Canadian manufacturer, Bombardier.

The two bombardier Q400 arrived in the country last September, with the government maintaining that another two of such kind would be received next January and the Bombardier CS300 will be received in 2018.

On Wednesday, this week, the Boeing Company and Tanzania confirmed the sealing of the deal for the supply of one 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft at 224.6 million US dollars (about 500bn/-), the first ever wide-body order for the country’s national carrier.

The envoys, speaking at State House in Dar es Salaam yesterday after meeting the Vice-President, Ms Samia Suluhu Hassan, said strong ATCL will in return boost the tourism sector and the national economy.

Mr Puente told VP Samia that Brazil was among the countries leading in planes manufacturing, inviting Tanzania to buy some of the aircraft from South American nation. Ms Samia, responding to the plea, invited the Brazilian plane manufacturers to visit the country and market their products, especially planes as part of strengthening trade relations between the two countries.

She appreciated Brazil’s feat in sugar production, inviting Brazilian investors to explore investment opportunities in Tanzania’s sugar sector, saying the country has enough land for such investments. Speaking to the Kenyan ambassador, the Vice-President underscored the need to cement and sustain the good relations between Tanzania and Kenya in areas of trade and investment. She asked Tanzanians to grab the opportunities available in Kenya to reap the benefits from the existing relations of the two countries.

Meanwhile, the vice-president met with the Ambassador of Denmark to Tanzania, Mr Hebogand Jensen, who assured her of his country’s intent to collaborate with others to build a giant fertiliser factory in Kilwa District, Lindi Region. Mr Jensen was hopeful that the industry will produce massively and employ hundreds of Tanzanians.

DailyNews