Tanzanians draw benefits from Belt and Road Initiative

China is Tanzania's largest trading partner, project contractor and major investor. Chinese enterprises' total investment in Tanzania exceeds $6.6 billion.

The Nyerere Bridge built by Chinese enterprisesis the largest cable-stayed cross-sea bridge in East Africa. The natural gas pipe built by Chinese enterprises helps Tanzania to strengthen its energy self-sufficiency.

China has invested more than $80 million in the construction of the largest ceramics factory in East Africa, and nearly $30 million building a modern steel and iron plant.

"The industrial cooperation lays a solid foundation for the bilateral cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative," said Lin Zhiyong, China's commercial representative in Tanzania.

The Belt and Road Initiative helps the Tanzanian people to realize their dream of becoming more prosperous. China sincerely hopes their country can develop faster, and their life can become better, and China is always ready to provide assistance to Tanzania, Lin added.

Chinese enterprises have created more than 150,000 jobs in Tanzania, and more than 350,000 Tanzanians are engaged in jobs related to the trade with China.

The China International Telecommunication Construction Corporation is building the optical fiber network in Tanzania. The project will lower telephone costsby 58 percent and internet fees by 50 percent, making the country a regional telecommunication center in East Africa. 

The schools, hospitals, roads, wells, as well as other livelihood projects which Chinese enterprises have invested in Tanzania, wind wide praise from locals.