PRESIDENT Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau, on the last stages of his three day official visit, at the weekend visited the jeans factory operated by an Asian firm, the Tanzania Tooku Garments, part of Roo Hsing Co., Ltd. a Taiwan-based firm exporting garments to the United States.

The visiting leader inspected activities of the firm, being briefed on its sales business and expressing satisfaction with its level of efficiency.

“This gives the message that Africa can achieve its goals through EPZ and SEZ programmes,” he said, accompanied by EPZA director general Charles Itembe, who said export processing zones business had attracted 5.2trn/- ($2bn) capital during the past ten years.

It has registered an accumulated 6.5trn/- ($2.5bn) in export earnings, with the work being housed mainly at the Benjamin William Mkapa Special Economic Zone (BWM-SEZ).

 “The EPZA success story in attracting capital and increased export earnings is largely due to the government's efforts to create an enabling investment environment,” he stated.

EPZA has registered more than 250 factories in different sectors, creating upwards of 60,000 direct jobs and an estimated 100,000 indirect jobs in agriculture, mineral processing, packaging, meat and wood products, he said.

The area has 21 buildings all being used by processors, with more than 4,500 local people directly employed while 8,600 are indirectly employed.

BWM SEZ has attracted $51.9m in capital, exported $160.8m worth of goods and procured goods and services worth $82.9m in the local market, with agro processing, smart cards, coffee and textile being the main beneficiaries, he elaborated.

EPZA focuses at attracting investments through setting up public and private sector zones, featuring amenities required by potential investors, creating a promising environment for enterprise growth and prosperity, he said.

BWM- SEZ is among key government initiatives to make the country attain semi-industrialised status, with the main activities being garments, agro-processing, engineering and technology investments he further noted.

He explained to the visiting leader that the overall industrial development strategy is to leverage the natural advantage of being a maritime nation having a strategic geo-location as a natural international trade gateway for several hinterland countries.

“EPZA is well placed to offer a wide range of investor support services under one roof in the one stop service centre, he said, highlighting that it provides services such as investment guidance and comprehensive information on such zones.

BWM-SEZ facilitates investors to get factory space or serviced land within or outside existing industrial/commercial parks, as well as company registration, administrative procedures for tax incentives, visas and work permits, he added.