The Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs is reviewing laws and policies governing the blue economy to create a more investor-friendly environment while safeguarding Tanzania’s natural wealth for the benefit of its citizens.
The ministry says the reforms are aimed at striking a balance between attracting private investment and protecting the country’s natural resources, particularly those found in oceans, lakes and other areas linked to the blue economy.
Director of the Natural Wealth and Natural Resources Oversight Unit at the ministry, Ms Neema Mwanga, said the government was working to ensure that the legal framework supports investment without compromising national interests or sustainable development.
“We are currently advancing an agenda to strike the right balance between the responsibility of attracting investment and the responsibility of managing the country’s wealth and natural resources in order to achieve sustainable economic and social development,” she said.
Ms Mwanga said the reforms were being undertaken in line with the National Development Vision 2050, which places a strong emphasis on private-sector participation in driving economic growth.
She said the ministry was reviewing laws to identify and address provisions that could hinder the harvesting, utilisation and investment in natural resources.
The move, she said, was particularly important given the expected contribution of the private sector to the implementation of Vision 2050.
“Vision 2050 clearly provides that 70 per cent will come from the private sector, and the private sector is the one driving this economy in areas such as marine fishing, seaweed farming and the production of marine products,” Ms Mwanga said.
She said a predictable and supportive legal framework would be critical in encouraging investors to participate in sectors such as marine fisheries, seaweed farming and the production of marine-based products.
At the same time, she stressed that investment in the blue economy must translate into tangible benefits for Tanzanians and contribute to sustainable economic and social development.
Ms Mwanga also called for greater public awareness of opportunities in the blue economy, saying citizens should be equipped with information and knowledge that would enable them to participate in and benefit from the sector.
She said the ministry had established a dedicated unit to deal with investment and commercial disputes, including those that may arise from blue economy-related activities.
Meanwhile, Chief State Attorney at the ministry, Mr Richard Jacopiyo, said the government was encouraging investors and other stakeholders to use alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to settle commercial disagreements.
He said the ministry had registered professionals who provide alternative dispute resolution services, including mediators and negotiation facilitators.
“We understand that investment activities may give rise to various disputes between investors and service providers. Therefore, as a ministry, we are promoting the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms,” Mr Jacopiyo said.
He urged professionals interested in providing such services to register through the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Information System (NARIS), which was established to facilitate registration of alternative dispute resolution practitioners.
Mr Jacopiyo said a strong and predictable legal framework was essential to attracting investment while ensuring that economic activities remained aligned with Tanzania’s national interests.
“The law is an important tool for creating an investment environment that takes national interests into account while attracting investment. To achieve this, we need a strong legal framework that creates an enabling environment for economic activities, particularly those in the blue economy,” he said.
The reforms come as Tanzania seeks to expand the contribution of the blue economy to economic growth, job creation and sustainable use of marine and other aquatic resources.