STATEMENT BY MR. G. S. MGONJA DEPUTY

PRINCIPAL SECRETARY MINISTRY OF FINANCE AT

THE SIGNING CEREMONY OF TWO AGREEMENTS

WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF FINLAND ON

(1) IMPROVEMENT AND STRENGTHENING OF

OLMOTONYI FORESTRY TRAINING INSTITUTE

AND (2) SUPPORT TO TANESCO DIESEL

GENERATORS REHABILITATION PROGRAMME -

MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1997 - 12.00 NOON

YOUR EXCELLENCY MR. ILARI RANTAKAARI

AMBASSADOR OF FINLAND TO TANZANIA

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

First allow me to express my pleasure for having had this opportunity of signing with you today the two Agreements under which (1) the Government of Finland will provide Grant Aid to Tanzania of FIM 5.0 million equivalent to T.shs 565.00 million to finance the procurement o f spare parts for TANESCO’s Diesel Generators in Dar es Salaam, and (ii) the Government of

Finland will provide FIM 3.25 million equivalent to T.shs 367.25 million to assist the Olmotonyi Forestry Training Institute in the form of technical assistance. The latter grant is within the SADC regional programme for improvement and strengthening of forestry colleges.

On behalf of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania I would like to thank you personally, Your Excellency, and through you the Government and the People of Finland for this timely support. The assistance to TANESCO in particular is coming at the time when it is most needed.

The Government of Finland has long been assisting the energy and forestry sectors in Tanzania. The two Agreements we have signed today are consistent with and in fulfilment of the understandings reached between our two Governments during Policy Discussions held late last year and during the recent mid-term review of Finland - Tanzania Development Co-operation.

Your Excellency, let me once again affirm the commitment of the Government of Tanzania to maintain and promote further, the friendly relations between Tanzania and Finland.

THANK YOU.

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