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Last Updated: 28.8.2010

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Mwangunga welcomes partners in conservation

THE Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Ms Shamsa Mwangunga, has applauded business leaders in the country for taking the initiative to protect natural heritage.

The minister was officiating at the opening of the Leaders for Conservation in Africa (LCA) meeting in Dar es Salaam on Thursday. This is the first time Tanzania has hosted the meeting.

She said that LCA is an initiative of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). It is expected to bring a mileage in promoting conservation, development of wildlife in Africa and address the global environmental climate change.

"I wish to applaud the business leaders of Tanzania for taking the initiative to influence concerted effort of businessmen in this country to focus on the protection of our natural heritage, for this will be the beginning of bringing together businessmen and conservationists in Tanzania," she said.

Addressing the meeting, the minister insisted on trans-boundary collaboration and specialised knowledge of both conservation of nature and business management.

She said like the human body has requirements to grow, so does the environment which also requires more money to service and protect it against continuously growing human demands.

Speaking on the mounting cost of conservation in recognition of the impact of human attitude, the minister said the government recognised it and that's the reason the law to cater for Public Private Partnership was recently passed.

She said the law encourages business investments to be an integral part in building national economy which is the same as in the LCA philosophy of looking forward in broadening areas of involvement of the private sector to invest in nature.

She said policies and laws are now in place and the government is set to see private forests, management of forests concessions, private wildlife ranches and farms.

She also insisted that the positive contributions that investments in conservation can make to GDP cannot be overemphasised without Public Private Partnership, adding that through it, there is going to be quality lodges, development of tourist products as well as promoting tourism attractions to ensure long-term survival of protected areas.

The four-day meeting is being attended by ministers, permanent secretaries, directors and various experts from African countries and other conservation organisations as well as international business leaders.

Shilling appreciates against US dollar

THE Tanzanian shilling has been showing signs of appreciation against major currencies this week after it nose dived a month ago.

The recovery will restore confidence from local business men who are involved in international trade through imports or exports and the recovery may revamp investors in the country.

During the past week, the shilling appreciated against the US dollar, the sterling pound and the euro, but in commercial banks and bureau de change, it showed a mixed trend against the currencies adjacent markets Bureau de changes across the City of Dar es Salaam were on Thursday selling the shilling at an average of 1,515/- against the United States dollar, while the previous week the shilling traded at 1,522/- for the dollar.

The United Kingdom sterling Pound was selling at an average of 2,280/- compared to 2,360/- the previous week, while the Tanzanian currency also appreciated against the euro as it was on Thursday trading at an average of 1,850/- from 1,990 during the preceding week. Ms Agnes Mwakyusa, a business woman who exports sea foods to China told the 'Daily News' that the current behaviour of the shilling is not good for international business where most of the payments are being paid in dollars. She said that there are times when the business persons negotiate a deal while the dollar is trading low and before payments it mostly happens that the currency surge making it risky for the local business persons. "When the dollar rises, it is for the benefit of those who are involved in exporting various items because they earn more than what they used to earn and it becomes more of a crisis to those importing," she noted. She said that the rising currencies comes to the expense of the consumer mostly ordinary Tanzanians because business persons don't want to make losses and prefer to increasing prices for items. Ms Mwakyusa said that for those who are exporting various items overseas, they are making huge profits because when they are paid in dollars, they immediately exchange the currency into shillings.

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