Chinese firms eye pharmaceutical industry

Dar es Salaam. Investors from five Chinese companies are expected in the country next month for negotiations with the government with a view to investing in the pharmaceutical sector.

The companies also eye investments in other East Africa countries.

Speaking during a press conference yesterday, the executive director of the Tanzania Investment Centre TIC), Mr Geoffrey Mwambe, said the companies expressed their interest during a visit by the Tanzanian health minister, Ms Ummy Mwalimu, to China recently. The visit also coincided with Business and Investment Forum, where Mr Mwambe led the TIC and other stakeholders.

The forum was also attended by 15 pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturers, who are members Tanzania Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (TAPI).

The investment and business forum in China was held from August 10 and ran through August 18.

According to the TIC boss, during the forum the pharmaceutical association also signed three Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) to facilitate the cooperation between the two countries in the health sector.

“When the investors arrive they will meet local health stakeholders for discussions on business in order to get a clue of how they can invest in the production of pharmaceutical products,” said Mr Mwambe.

He also revealed that now the foreign investors can access residence permits from TIC. This comes after the National Identification Authority (Nida) and other authorities set up their centre at the TIC headquarters.

According to him, the centre has also installed an electronic system that will allow provision of work permits to the investors, adding that from September 3, permit’s applications will be submitted in soft and hard copies.

“We have joined hands with the Nida and we have also launched an electronic system to provide potential investors with work permits right here. We are doing all this to improve the ease of doing business in the country,” he said.

Besides, Mr Mwambe warned government officials, especially those at the district level who provide fake statements on taxes or suspend operations of certain factories without the authorities consent, to stop because such practices discourage the investors.

“We appreciate the leader’s contribution, but if there are things involving other regulatory authorities, kindly call them instead of taking matters into your own hands,” he said.