 |
| Map of Tanzania |
THE value of
manufactured goods in the southern zone has increased by over two-fold
pushed up by cement and cashew nut kernel output, according to a Bank of
Tanzania (BoT) report.
The value of
selected commodities produced in the southern zone, comprising of Coast,
Ruvuma, Lindi and Mtwara regions, rose to 215.61bn/- in June 2017 from
87.39bn/- in 2016.
The report released
late last year mainly attributed the trend to increase in the volume of
production of cement, instant coffee and cashew-nut kernels.
"Cashew-nut kernels production rose following increase in the supply of
raw cashew nut," the report dubbed South Eastern Zone Economic
Performance Report for the year ending June 2017 said. For cement
production it was mainly on account of higher demand coupled with
arrival of Dangote cement factory distribution trucks.
Due to its
geographical location--bordering the Indian Ocean and existence of
natural gas--the South eastern zone has potential of becoming an
industrial hub. "Abundant discovery and drilling of natural gas and
other minerals in the zone will facilitate establishment of industries
and other service related activities," the report showed. This is
manifested in Coast and Lindi regions where more than 69 large and
medium scale industries have been established recently.
On the other hand
the production was tipped to increase further since 21 new local and
foreign investments set to produce tiles, fruit processing, cement, iron
and steel are currently under construction. These industries, medium
and larger scale, are expected to contribute significantly in the zonal
and nation economic development, the report further said.
It showed that
cashew nut kernel production increased by 17 per cent to 2,081.9 tonnes
at end of June last year from 1,779.4 tonnes in same period 2016. The
kernel produced value jumped 52 per cent to 34.56bn/- in June 2017
compared with 22.69bn/- in June 2016. Cement production also jumped by
378.5 per cent to 969, 270 tonnes from 202,573 tonnes. Its value also
increased by171 per cent to 175.45bn/- from 64.68bn/-. Instant coffee
production shot 126 per cent to 949.8 kilogrammes from 420.3kg. the
value of coffee produced went up by 158 per cent to 26.7m/- from
10.3m/-.
The zone for the
first time recorded steel production that record an output of 4,169
tonnes value 5.56bn/-. The central bank said the economic performance in
the zone was expected to remain strong owing to projected increase in
the usage of natural gas as source of energy.
The abundant
discovery and drilling of natural gas and other minerals in the zone,
was expected to further facilitate establishment of industries and other
service related activities including Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and
fertiliser plants in Lindi and Mtwara regions
No comments:
Post a Comment