The Minister for Tourism, Trade and Investments, Ms Samia Suluhu, said this yesterday, when presenting a National Policy on promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in the House of Representatives.

She said the government would employ various approaches to implement the policy, including cutting down on bureaucracy, to deleting or amending all laws frustrating entrepreneurs and improving infrastructure especially electricity.

The minister said through the SME, the government would easily achieve economic growth and contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

"This sector can help us improve the island's economic performance," said the minister. The government has been saying that the economy is growing at the rate of six per cent.

She said the government would speed up the development of the SME in a bid to curb an escalating unemployment problem, stimulate production and increase revenue collection.

Under the policy, the minister said agriculture, tourism, fisheries, services and processing sectors would be given appropriate attention as key components for the economic growth.

The minister further explained the SME policy was also part of the government's implementation of the National Poverty Alleviation Plan that was launched five years ago.

Several representatives who debated the policy said it was a move in the right direction. They later approved the policy.

Source: Tanzania Standard Newspapers