Zanzibar seeks Indian investment in health care

Tuesday, 09 March 2004, 20:30 IST
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NEW DELHI: Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume Monday invited Indian entrepreneurs to invest in diversified sectors in the island state, particularly in healthcare, agriculture, tourism and the service sectors. "We have published the Zanzibar investment policy, which lays great importance on investors, such as the Indian entrepreneurs, to exploit these potentials," Karume said here addressing an interactive meeting with Indian business lobbies. An island state within the United Republic of Tanzania, Zanzibar has unexploited investment potential in private health care, Karume told businessmen. "Healthcare sector has great opportunity for investors to set up private medical facilities in Zanzibar, which could offer services to Tanzania and beyond - to the East African Community and SADC (South African Development Community) countries," he said. "Presently, people from our region travel to India and other countries to seek medical treatment at private institutions. More people can receive treatment at home with the establishment of such a venture," he said. P.R. Shriram, member of the Confederation of Indian Industry's Africa Committee, said the industry lobby has "identified a number of areas in which Indian industry is keen to partner African businesses". These include agricultural equipment, auto components, biotechnology, chemicals, drugs and pharmaceuticals, industrial machinery, IT, food processing, textiles and apparels and telecom. "Tourism would be the mainstay of our economic cooperation in both infrastructure development for tourism and circuit development," said Shriram, adding that while the natural resources in Zanzibar lend themselves to the setting up of industries, there is a need to create first generation entrepreneurs through counseling, training and supporting the educated unemployed youth.
Source: IANS
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