ARUSHA, Tanzania, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania is conducting a major review of various laws with a view to improving the industrial sector and attracting more business investments in the east African country, a senior official said on Thursday.
Charles Mwijage, Tanzania's Minister for Industries, Trade and Investment said that the legislations under review include the Investment Act of 1997, Standards Act No. 2 of 2009, and Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act of 1999.
The minister revealed this when presenting his ministry's budget estimates for the 2018/19 financial year, in the National Assembly in the country's capital Dodoma.
Mwijage said the review of the laws is now in its final stages before proposed amendments are brought before the National Assembly.
According to the minister, the law review is aimed at removing various contradictions which are hampering implementation of the laws, thus thwarting government efforts to improve the conditions of doing business in the country.
He added that the government is also reviewing various policies including the business policy at East African Community (EAC) level, and consumer protection policy against unfair and misleading markets.
"The government intends to come up with new policies including a National Standards policy, as well as a new strategy on innovative copyright," he told the House.
The ministry is furthermore working to ensure that Tanzania ratifies the Trade Facilitation Agreement of the World Trade organization, Mwijage said, adding that a draft of the agreement has already been submitted for government scrutiny prior to ratification by the National Assembly, he said.
According to the minister, government efforts to enable Tanzania to become an industrialized country have already led to a number of achievements.
He cited cement production as among industries that have been doing well, reaching 7.4 million tonnes per year against the national demand of 4.8 million tonnes.
"We are also doing well in the metals sector with the current number of factories standing at 25, thus allowing the country to be independent in steel products," he added.