Permanent secretary in the ministry of Finance, Dr Servacius Likwelile (right) and director general of Development Cooperation in ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium to Tanzania, Mr Peter Moors, sign in Dar es Salaam yesterday the grant agreement to support water and agriculture in Tanzania.
HOTO | VENANCE NESTORY By Bernard Lugongo ,The Citizen ReporterPosted Wednesday, March 12 2014 at 00:00IN SUMMARYHe said that, Belgium has been working with Tanzania for about four decades and has acquired recognised expertise in both sectors over the years.
Dar es Salaam. Water and agriculture sectors yesterday received a fresh boost following the signing of a new bilateral development cooperation programme between the government and the Kingdom of Belgium. Under the agreement, Belgium will support Water and Agriculture sectors by providing a grant of euros 20 million (Sh40 billion), for the programme covering the coming two years (2014-2015).
An important contribution will go to the basket fund for water projects.The agreement was signed at the ministry of Finance by Dr Servacius Likwelile, permanent secretary in the ministry of Finance, and Mr Peter Moors, the director general of the Belgian Department for Development Cooperation, on behalf of Mr Jean-Pascal Labille, the Belgian minister of Cooperation. Mr Likwelile appreciated the support, saying: “it is a valuable support since the water and agriculture sectors are among the country’s top priorities, as stated in Mkukuta, the Five Year Development Plan and Big Results Now (BRN) initiative”.
Head of the Belgian delegation, Mr Moors, highlighted the longstanding bilateral cooperation between the two countries.He said that, Belgium has been working with Tanzania for about four decades and has acquired recognised expertise in both sectors over the years.Mr Moors confirmed Belgium’s commitment to join efforts being made by Tanzania to achieve their common goal:
that is, eradicating poverty in the country. Apart from the support in the two key sectors, Belgium was also providing funds for studies and consultancy, through the Study and Consultancy Fund jointly managed with the government, and scholarships for institutional capacity building at central, regional and local level.Belgium was also active in Natural Resources Management and Local Government Reform through interventions carried out by the Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC).
