ZANZIBAR is determined to ensure that areas designated for industries are equipped with the necessary infrastructure to attract domestic and foreign investors.

President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi issued this position here yesterday, laying the foundation stone for a strategically planned industrial investment area in Dunga Zuze, Unguja South Region.

Facilitating investments in earmarked zones will stimulate economic activity in those areas, as developing the industrial areas is part of efforts to eliminate poverty and increase incomes by creating jobs, he said.

Putting up the foundation is a step in implementing the 2025 development vision, the CCM manifesto for 2020/2025 and the Zanzibar development plan. The latter is pegged at increasing industrial sector contribution to the economy, he stated.

Industrial investments will provide various benefits including employment opportunities for young people, purchasing of farmers’ produce and increasing revenue through various taxes, he said.

The highway network will be strengthened to connect production areas and markets, reduce transportation costs and ensure that industrial areas’ products reach customers without additional costs, he stated.

He assured investors that the government will be providing the necessary support to speed up investments as expected, while Omar Said Shaaban, the Trade and Industrial Development minister, said that effort will be directed to producing products showing competitive in domestic and foreign markets.

The government faced difficulties in explaining to residents who were asked to vacate their area for the project, he said, listing items for the area as including a factory for the production of human medicines and vaccines, a factory for assembling fire equipment, and a laboratory for the standards institute.

The ministry is committed to realising industrial growth policies and pushing the reform agenda, shortlisting units in commercial and industrial areas that hinder industrial development from being carried out.

Fatma Khamis, the principal secretary, said that developing the area would open many economic and social opportunities as the total industrial area covers 173 acres.

To start the project, the ministry paid compensation for crops and buildings to 41 households where a total of 590.7m/- was used.

Ayoub Mohammed Mahmoud, the Unguja South regional commissioner, said that the regional secretariat was elated at the outlined prospects, as it would cut the vast employment as the various industries will employ many people.

The regional secretariat has hope that the region will grow to be the first to have a car assembly plant, he added.