Kyela District to receive IT resource centre

AS part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Sura Technologies Limited, an information technology firm, has committed over 50m/- to execute various projects in Kyela District, Mbeya Region that would result into improved socio-economic services. The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, said after laying foundation stone of an IT resource centre to be constructed at Mwakikome primary school that the projects will contribute to improved people living standards. “Access to information technologies is currently a necessity and important to all both urban and rural population in speeding up economic development and alleviating poverty,” said Dr Mwakyembe, also the Kyela legislator (CCM), adding that the resource centre will improve the access and quality of education in the area. Apart from an IT resource centre, other projects already funded by Sura Technologies include building and renovating a building of three classrooms after it has collapsed due to floods last year. The company also donated 100 bags of cement, 50desks, seven bundles of roofing sheets and office chairs. He said Sura Technologies Limited has picked the remotest school to put an IT centre to show that internet technology is not for a small segment of people but should encompass the whole population in the country. Dr Mwakyembe said the resource centre will be useful to neighbouring schools and villages in accessing important information through internet services to acquire wide knowledge and information regarding socioeconomic development. “We thank Sura Technologies for the support and call upon other companies to emulate Sura Technologies Limited in supporting socio-economic projects to improving people’s living standards. With the IT resource centre, pass rates particularly of subjects like sciences will go up in all schools surrounding the area,” he said. Sura Technologies Chief Executive Officer Mr Ramadhan Reddy said the IT resource centre will be fully fledged with computers and insertion of internal connections. “After the completion of this project, the locally established IT firm, Sura Technologies Limited will targeting to construct one IT resource centre every year in other parts of the country to spread the information and communication development opportunities to the whole population,” he said. As an IT solutions providing firm, he said Sura Technologies Limited analyse customers’ requirements and come up with a software solution to suite their needs. Also, it assists in training the personnel to operate and maintain the software application.

Rwanda hails Tanzania in restructuring Dar port

TRANSIT Trade stakeholders from Rwanda have expressed satisfaction on the business grounds between Tanzania and Rwanda promising to continue using Dar es Salaam port for shipping in their cargo. A statement released by Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA) said the Rwandan delegation that visited the country last month have promised to boost businesses with their Tanzania counterparts after being satisfied with the environment of doing business in the country. Rwanda is the second biggest user of the Dar es Salaam port among members of the central corridor. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) tops the list of Dar es Salaam port users. According to the records, at least 70 percent of Rwanda cargo pass through Dar es Salaam port. In 2015 Rwanda imported about 819,935 tons of goods through the Dar es Salaam Port. The delegation was represented by officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of East African Community, Association of Clearing & Forwarding Agents and Rwanda Shippers Council, Rwanda Revenue Authority and Rwanda High Commission to Tanzania. The delegation visited key business areas such as Maersk, CMA and PIL (shipping lines), Tanzania Food and Drug Authority (TFDA), Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA). Among important issues discussed during the two-day visit included ironing out of issues such as high container deposits required by shipping lines, Non recognition of Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) standard marks by TFDA, full implementation of the simplified trade regime and opening of Rusumo OSBP for 24/7 operations. Other agendas included allowing Rwandan clearing agents to operate at Dar es Salaam port, VAT charges on transit auxiliary services and issuance of Simplified Certificate of Origin at Rusumo Customs Border post. The Head of the delegation, a Senior Regional Integration Advisor, Ministry of East African Community, Mr Leonard Mungarulire said the delegation was able to find a common ground on various issues, build business relations and trust between shipping lines based in Dar es Salaam and the Rwanda Business community. “We found it to be very productive and we commit to maintain the same commitment and momentum in order to deliver tangible results and impact to our people” he said. The CCTTFA Executive Secretary, Mr Dieudonne Dukundane said his office is looking forward to bring more stakeholders to Tanzania, which is the key facilitator for trade in central corridor. I am happy that the delegation had successful tour and important issues were discussed and agreed upon. This is an important milestone for Tanzania, Rwanda and Central Corridor,” he noted.

TTCL assures engineers and contractors of reliable telecom services

TANZANIA Telecommunication Limited (TTCL) has assured engineers and contractors executing projects in the remote areas of satellite internet to ease access communication services. The TTCL’s official, Engineer Yonah Kulanga said in Dar es Salaam at the weekend that the telecom firm was ready to offer communication services to engineers and contractors who implement projects in remote areas, where there are no communication tower or any other form of modern communication system. “TTCL is looking forward to provide communication services through satellite, this will enable many contractors to make business related communication when they are in the field,” he noted. He said TTCL has come up with a solution to communication barrier among contractors and that they will ensure them communication services through satellite. According to Mt Kulanga, the company is ready to offer the said service to any person who wish to stay connected with internet and other related communication services. He mentioned some areas where TTCL is already offering the service as to some national parks in Rukwa, Londo forest in Lindi Region, Serengeti National Park in Mara Region, Makutupora research centre and Tawiri centre in Dodoma. Also TTCL provided communication services to some Kongwa areas which are mostly used for grazing animal. The National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) Engineer, Nsaji Mwamukonda asked contractors to use TTCL’s data centre for safely keeping their crucial information. He said contractors have many information, which are important for future projects and that they must use TTCL database to keep them safe. “I would like to use this opportunity to convince and ask contractors across the country to preserve their data through our data centre, it is safe and reliable,” he said