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The United Republic of Tanzania and Japan have signed a 377 billion shillings agreement to finance the implementation of the Agriculture and Rural Development project. (Agriculture and Rural Development Two Step Loan) which is intended to directly benefit farmers through microloans.
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba and the Ambassador of Japan to Tanzania. Hon. Yasushi Misawa while being witnessed by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Hon. Hiyasuki Fuji at an event held on January 14, 2025 at the Sub-Office of the Ministry of Finance in Dar es Salaam.
The amount of money provided to Tanzania under a concessional loan scheme by the Government of Japan through its development agency (JICA) aims to enable associations, farmer groups and individual farmers to obtain short, medium and long-term loans for wheat, maize, rice, sunflower and horticulture crops.
Speaking at the signing ceremony of the agreement, the Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba, explained that the availability of the funds is due to the good work being done by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, to continue strengthening diplomatic and economic cooperation between Tanzania and Japan.
In the last three years, His Excellency President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan has done a great job of opening up the country by strengthening diplomatic and economic relations, today we are seeing the benefits. This amount of money will be directed directly to farmers to accelerate the pace of reforms in the agricultural sector that will involve increasing production, quality and The value of the crops . Explained Minister Dr. Nchemba
For his part, Japan’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Fuji, explained that the amount of soft loan funds has been provided to support the Tanzanian Government’s commitment and efforts to economically liberate farmers through their work.
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“We recognize the good work being done by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, in developing the agricultural sector. In Japan, we believe this amount of money will go towards accelerating the improvement of the agricultural sector so that it can increase farmers’ income and lift them out of poverty .” Said Wazir Fuji.
And the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Hon. Cosato Chumi who represented the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Hon. Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo at the event, explained how the implementation of economic diplomacy under the leadership of President Hon. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan is attracting development stakeholders to assist in various sectors in the country.
“These good things we are witnessing today are the result of the efforts of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, to open the country by strengthening diplomatic relations with the International Community. It is our duty to continue to support our President in the implementation of diplomacy so that he can continue to bring development to the country.” Said Hon. Chumi
In another step, the Trade and Investment Forum between Tanzania and Japan was held on 14 January 2025 in Dar es Salaam where it was opened by the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade. Hon. Exaud S. Kigahe who also led the Tanzanian delegation to the conference.
The conference aimed to bring together Japanese and Tanzanian businessmen with the aim of enabling them to establish partnerships, to strengthen and promote trade and investment in the country for the benefit of both parties.
