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From Our Correspondent in Arusha

The Special Wildlife Investment Concession Areas (SWICA) Operators Association of Tanzania (SOAT) has been launched in Arusha to boost investment in tourism, conservation and community development.

SOAT members have promised government  that in the next two decades they would pump in 50 million US dollars (125bn/-) to implement various projects.

SOAT Executive Secretary, Erasmus Tarimo, said at the association's launch ceremony at the weekend that "our expectation is to generate 790bn/- during the 20-year investment period.

He said 20 million US dollars and 7 million US dollars respectively have been set aside mainly for anti-poaching activities and research during the implementation of projects.

In their ambition to promote tourism, conservation and community development activities, Tarimo said SOAT members want to strengthen the long-term predictable investment environment for wildlife tourism.

"Our vision is to ensure that wildlife conservation, tourism and community development are sustainable for national economic growth," Tarimo said.

"We're craving for innovative investment and development of tourism and conservation."

SOAT members are also out to build better infrastructure for conservation to attract the flow of local and foreign tourists.

Launching the association, Tanzania Wildlife Authority (TAWA) Board Chairman, retired Major General Hamis Semfuko, praised SWICA for the bold step, saying it would strengthen communication with the government.

He said previously, SWICA had only six investors who injected US dollars 278 million to implement investment projects but that figure of investors has now increased to 13.

Acting TAWA Principal Commissioner, Mlage Yussuf  Kabange, promised that his organisation would provide the much-needed assistance to SOAT to enable the realisation of the 2030 government target of attracting eight million tourists.

Speaking at the same occasion, SOAT Vice-chairperson, Ms Martha Baare, promised to work closely with the government mentioning taxation as a challenge to the investors.

On his part, Nicolas Negri, a director of Mwiba Holdings Limited, one of the companies which are the architects of SOAT, also pledged support to the government.

He thanked such organisations as TATO, TAHOA, TAWIRI and other tourism stakeholders for their participation at SOAT's inaugural ceremony.

SWICA investment areas are Ikorongo- Grumeti Game Reserves, Maswa Reserve, Maswa Kimali, Maswa Mbono,, Mkungunero Reserve, Lake Natron and Plot LL1 of Selous Game Reserve.