I arrived in Tanzania as the Chief Representative of JICA Tanzania Office in February 2023.
My arrival to this beautiful country came just two months after JICA Tanzania had celebrated the 60th anniversary of its cooperation activities to the country in December 2022.
Despite being a home to over 120 ethnic groups, the country is united and there seems to be no hostile ethnic feelings at all amongst its people. Tanzania is also endowed with rich human and natural resources. Above all, it is a peaceful country. Therefore, the atmosphere I have found in the country is quite inviting. (Hali ya utulivu niliyoikuta hapa nchini kwa kweli inatamanisha).
JICA's longstanding relationship with Tanzania dates back to 1962, just one year after the independence of Tanganyika, when a single Government official was accepted for technical training in Japan. Over the years, such activities continued to grow and expand and now include not only technical cooperation and the dispatch of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV), but also the provision of grant aid and concessionary loans.
In 60 years, the number of trainees JICA has accepted has exceeded 22,000 and we have worked with innumerable Tanzanian people. Our experience, knowledge and various networks we have got through activities of technical and financial cooperation on the ground including JOCV'S activities are our invaluable treasures and assets.
Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), which place value on African ownership and international partnership, has also marked 30 years anniversary last year, and JICA is vigorously engaged for further development of Africa and Tanzania.
With such a background, it is both a great honor and a challenge to me to assume this position at this moment.
Tanzania has, over the past decade, continued to realize robust economic growth coupled with a stable macro-economic environment that it has been enjoying since the turn of the century despite the change in policy. The country was also able to qualify as a lower middle-income country as of July 2020, five years ahead of targeted year of 2025.
On the other hand, Tanzania faces many challenges towards sustainable development such as industrial diversification, infrastructure development, poverty alleviation, public financial management, climate change response and so on.
In a world of multiple risks such as unstable international situation and unpredictable climate change, necessity to improve fundamental capability to tackle the above challenges and cooperation with international community are becoming more important.
JICA Tanzania Office is committed to accelerate, expand and improve JICA's cooperation based on the trust among us, deepening partnership with not only the Government of Tanzania but also with various stakeholders including the private sectors of Japan and Tanzania, development partners and the Tanzanian people.
ARA Hitoshi
Chief Representative
JICA Tanzania Office
March 6, 2023
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