Tanzanian authorities on Thursday pledged to allocate land to 13 Chinese companies that have shown interest to do business in the east African nation's Coast region.

Evarist Ndikilo, the Coast regional commissioner, said preparations by the government were in final touches to allocate land to the 13 Chinese firms, adding: "They will be allocated with the land in two weeks' time."

"It is the government's drive to ensure that Tanzania attains an industrial economy and creates job opportunities to its people," Ndikile told a news conference in Kibaha shortly after he had held talks with the Chinese investors.

The official said the Coast region has enough land for investments, including a 5,890-hectare special zone for investments in Chalinze area.

He said the Chinese investors were interested in putting up cement industries, manufacturing of wagons for the standard gauge railway, plastic materials and car batteries for export.

Godfrey Mwambe, the Executive Director of the Tanzania Investment Center (TIC), said Tanzania has been receiving investors from China through the facilitation of the country's envoy to China, Mberwa Kairuki.

According to TIC, trade between Tanzania and China continues to grow healthily and China is Tanzania's second-largest source of Foreign Direct Investment.

About 724 Chinese companies are registered with the TIC, while more and more Tanzanians are entering into partnerships in trade and investment with their Chinese counterparts.

Over the years, Chinese companies have built a number of mega projects in Tanzania, including roads and bridges, creating about 150,000 job opportunities. Some 350,000 Tanzanians are engaging in jobs relevant to trade with China, according to the Chinese embassy in Tanzania. 

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