Tanzania woos Indian film industry

Mumbai, March 25 (IANS) Tanzania is hoping to attract India's mammoth film industry to its vast green spaces and beaches, even as it is fast becoming a key gateway to the African continent for business enterprises.

Addressing a gathering of industrial captains Monday night, Tanzanian Vice President Ali Mohamed Shein, who is leading a trade delegation to India, said his country was endowed with lush greenery, a pristine sea and 'a peaceful atmosphere'.

'We want to promote tourism and the best way to do it is to ask the country's film industry to visit us.'

Tourism is fast emerging as a key economic factor in the development of the east African nation.

'In several places we are promoting investment in the hospitality industry at five star hotel levels, but we are sincerely seeking in several tourism spots investments and expertise in the setting up of small restaurants and medium hotel chains. And Indians are the best in the hospitality industry,' he said.

Talking of the similarities in the development curve of the two countries, he said both nations were primarily agrarian economies 'and both of them are now emerging and fanning out in other sectors'.

'We have come here to attract Indian expertise and offer incentives which have evolved through the changes we have brought in our economic structural policies,' he said.

Apart from heavy industries, the vice president said the Tanzanian team has also met several banking and insurance firms 'for setting up bases in the east African country'.