Improving Competitiveness and Increasing Economic Growth in Tanzania

The Role of ICT

Activity #	1247
Partners	OTF Group

Summary

How can ICT help to sustain and expand economic growth and opportunity in Tanzania by affording Tanzanian firms new opportunities to compete in the regional and global economy? How can government, the private sector, the international donor community and other key partners work together to create the conditions for ICT-enabled competitiveness and economic growth in Tanzania? A recently published study, part of infoDev's growing series of country studies on ICT, growth and competitiveness, analyzes the opportunities for and challenges to ICT-enabled growth in Tanzania, and makes concrete recommendations for action.

Background / Terms of Reference

During the past decade, Tanzania has achieved macro-economic stability and made significant progress in implementing structural reforms. This was accompanied by increasing flows of foreign aid and economic growth has accelerated during this period to 5–6% per annum. In order to sustain its current economic growth, Tanzania must continue implementing its reform agenda while increasing attention to investment in infrastructure as well as incentives for entrepreneurs to innovate by developing new businesses and by scaling up existing activities that take advantage of the improved economic environment. Just as importantly, sustaining economic growth will increasingly be dependent on Tanzania’s ability to adapt to, and tap into the global economy.

As part of its growing series of studies on ICT, growth and competitiveness in developing countries, infoDev commissioned a study on Tanzania designed to:

Identify and assess the constraints facing entrepreneurs and innovators in Tanzania, and the opportunities and challenges facing firms and industries as they confront outside competition both regionally and globally
Evaluate the potential role of ICT as tools of productivity, competitiveness and innovation both broadly across the Tanzanian economy and at the enterprise level in key sectors such as mining, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism, as well as potential new growth sectors such as services
Determine the key enablers of ICT take-up, and ICT-driven innovation in specific sectors and in the economy as a whole
Explore the potential impact that ICT can have with Tanzanian firms and innovators who address these challenges, as well as its broader impact on growth and competitiveness for Tanzania, including its impact on rural entrepreneurs and those offering products and services to poor populations
Assess the actual and potential role of government in Tanzania as both a consumer and user of ICT and as a key partner in creating the conditions for ICT-enabled growth and competitiveness.