The support will be provided through the Swedish International Development Agency.
A State House Statement said yesterday that the pledge is contained in a letter to President Jakaya Kikwete from Swedish minister for International Development Gunilla Carlsson. The letter was presented to the President by Swedish ambassador Lennarth Hjelmarker.
“This is not only evidence for our historical partnership but also for Tanzania’s policies and growth of its democratic institutions,” Ms Calson says the letter.
“While the relationship between the two countries is important, our future relationship will improve not in assistance but in investments,” she added.
The 2013-2019 programme targets several areas: job creation, energy sector development and market for agricultural produces; education with an emphasis on nursery and vocational training education; democracy, accountability, transparency and human rights awareness.
President Kikwete thanked Sweden for the assistance, saying developing countries needed assistance to empower themselves and fast-track development.
In another development, Tanzania signed three agreements with development partners for the provision of Sh517.94 billion to finance infrastructure development and national budget support.
Finance Minister William Mgimwa and Swedish ambassador Lennarth Hjelmarker signed two agreements through which Sweden will provide Sh202 billion (SEK850 million) as General Budget Support (GBS) for 2013/14 and Sh29 billion (SEK121 million) assistance to finance the rehabilitation of the Hale hydropower plant in Tanga Region.
Tanzania also signed an agreement with the African Development Bank for a Sh286.94 billion ($120.52 million) soft loan, which will finance the multinational Arusha-Holili/Taveta-Voi road project. Dr Mgimwa signed the agreements on the government’s behalf in his office.
He said the Swedish budget support would be used to boost economic growth and finance poverty reduction objectives under the Poverty Reduction Strategy II. The Hale power plant will inject 21MW into the national grid after rehabilitation, said Dr Mgimwa.
