Netherlands to back Tanzania's gas sector

Netherlands has promised to support Tanzania’s gas sector so that it can contribute to the country’s economic transformation.

The new Dutch Ambassador to Tanzania Jaap Frederiks told The Guardian in an exclusive interview last week in Dar es Salaam, that Tanzania has huge natural gas reserves, and if well exploited they can play a critical role in the country’s economic transformation.

Jaap Frederiks, Dutch Ambassador to Tanzania

According to experts, Tanzania currently has 41 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of Natural gas reserves.

Frederiks, who took office last week after his term of service in Australia said: “With these reserves Tanzania now stands, like the Netherlands some decades ago, on the threshold of important developments.

It has the possibility to liquefy and thus transport gas, which can be used both for domestic and export markets. Before the stage of production is reached, however, there is still a long way to go.

“As a major gas producer, the Netherlands has expertise in the gas sector and this is one among a number of areas where we can extend our support as longtime friends,” he said, referring to initiatives of Netherlands governmental institutions to share expertise and experience with their Tanzanian counterparts.

The Ambassador also referred to the expertise of the world’s Anglo-Dutch oil and gas Company, the Royal Dutch Shell.

The envoy said his government has put in place other programmes to promote trade and investment in the country.

He also named agriculture as a sector which can be a motor to transform Tanzania’s economy and enhance inclusive growth.

He said the sector can also contribute to economic transformation if farmers are empowered to apply modern technologies to improve production and link to the markets.

Frederiks said the more farmers manage to extensively apply technologies to further strengthen the quality of their products; the more agriculture will bring prosperity to the broad population.

He cited horticulture and milk farming and the possibilities to further transform them. A strong Dutch experience lies in the development of cooperatives for milk farmers, which have proven very effective means of linking small holder farmers to the market.

“Milk is essential for children’s growth. It is important to address issues of malnutrition. It is important for people also to know what they eat,” he said.
He added: “Health care starts with good nutrition and hygiene; with basic facilities to enable mothers to give birth safely and so forth. Better nutrition is important to develop the country productively.”

“If you want to develop the country productively you must start with the ground not at the top,” he pointed out.

Ambassador Frederiks recalled the re-opening of Tanzania diplomatic mission in Netherlands, underscoring that the move will bring even more close the cooperation between the two countries that has been very warm for decades.

May this year, President Jakaya Kikwete appointed a lawyer and a veteran politician Willison Masilingi to become a Tanzanian Ambassador to the Netherlands.

In the next four years of his tenure in Tanzania, Ambassador Frederiks is looking forward to explore and discover the country, which has an identity of its own, with proud and warm people.

He further made an assurance of his accessibility and willingness to collaborate with a multitude of stakeholders in achieving mutual benefits.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN