By Adam Ihucha, Arusha
Tanzania will immediately benefit over USD700, 000 (about 875m/-) in various grants from the Leon Sullivan Foundation, its public relations director Nichet Smith has said.
Proposed donations would be offered in the form of medical supplies, books and play pumps.
Play pump is an innovative children`s merry-go-round that pumps clean, safe drinking water from a deep borehole every time the children start to spin, now very popular in South Africa`s rural areas.
These items would be awarded and distributed to various groups during the Sullivan Summit VIII set to be held here early next month.
In an exclusive interview with the Guardian here last week, Nichet said besides the donation package, `The Summit of a Lifetime`, as its title goes, would also stimulate business.
``This year`s Sullivan Summit will stimulate, generate and drive business, tourism and development towards Africa like never before,`` she said, adding it was upon the local entrepreneurs to make a fortune and reap cash as much as they can out of the Summit.
Nichet said the Sullivan Summit delegates have heard a lot about East Africa and Tanzania in particular, so they are coming with a lot of cash to spend with an eye to leave economic impact behind.
According to her, there are two scheduled passenger Ethiopian Airways planes that would fly directly from Washington D.C to Kilimanjaro International Airport on 31st of May 2008, with 500 potential delegates with an intention to explore Arusha prior to the Summit.
``It is this time when these people will spend a lot of cash to purchase whatever in their disposal,`` Nichet said, stressing that local people should get ready to reap the benefit of the summit.
``We want to take Africa to the next level in terms of development, but for the endeavour to succeed, we in Sullivan Foundation create a platform for our members to dialogue with African people so as to know exactly what is needed,`` she said.
In this way, Nichet said, Leon Sullivan Foundation members and local people will form networks, enter joint ventures, and make friends for major future plans.
Promising that Arusha would be hectic than ever witnessed before, she urged locals not to get afraid of the delegates, instead, should interact with them, asking them anything, telling their story, impressing so that in the end, such interactions are seen to be bringing real change, she said.
From her point of view, Tanzania being a peaceful country stands a better chance to woo tourists from US immediately after the Sullivan Summit.
``I can assure you, the Summit will mark a great impact in terms of tourists flow in Tanzania in the near future because of peace and stability`` she stressed.
The key strategic objective of the Sullivan Summit VIII, in Arusha, is to create the opportunity for the nations in Africa and primarily North American and European business interests invest and otherwise engage in the socio-economic development of the African continent, through foreign direct investments, joint venture initiatives and public-private partnerships.
- SOURCE: Guardian
