Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA has continued to foster strong bilateral partnerships with other nations, after reinvigorating her relations with the Republic of Botswana.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday hosted her counterpart Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi, with the two leaders exchanging vows to foster bilateral ties to fuel economic development for the two countries.
President Masisi jetted into the country in the afternoon for a two-day official visit and the two countries straight away pledged to revive the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation within a timeframe of three months.
President Samia underscored the significance of Masisi’s visit, noting that economic relations between the two African nations have gradually kept growing with the trade volume rising from 731m/- to 3.5bn/- between 2005 and 2020 respectively.
The president added that the total value of investments from Botswana in Tanzania has reached US dollars 231 million, creating more than 2,128 jobs.
She pointed out that Presi ent Masisi’s visit in the country was a good platform to further cement diplomatic relations between the two countries, particularly in the area of the economy.
The Head of State pointed out that among major projects invested by investors from Botswana is the Mlimani City Complex, a deal entered by the University of Dar es Salaam and Gaborone investors.
President Samia said the Mlimani City Complex has been a good business centre, at- racting people of different ages ranging from children to adults who visit the area for various activities, mainly for shopping.
“I would like to assure my counterpart that Tanzania is going to protect the investments at all costs due to the fact that aside from being a business venture it’s also an attraction to the many people,” she affirmed.
According to President Samia, the two have agreed that the size of investment made between the two countries was still low considering the existing close ties and available opportunities.
The Heads of State further agreed to encourage the business community in the two countries to utilise the available opportunities in both nations.
Dar es Salaam and Gaborone also agreed to expand the scope of cooperation and share experience in different fields, with President Samia saying Tanzania would draw a leaf from Botswana, taking into account that it is one of fastest growing economies in Africa.
Ms Samia recalled that Botswana has registered tremendous growth through key sectors such as minerals particularly diamonds, noting that the country is among the biggest exporters of diamond worldwide.
President Samia said Botswana’s remarkable achievements were not by chance but through good plans in promoting the mining sector. She said Tanzania will send its experts to Botswana to obtain more experience in the mining sector and grow businesswise in the area.
Tanzania is also looking to learn from Botswana in the development of the livestock sector, specifically meat business. Botswana is among the largest meat traders on the continent.
Regarding the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation, President Samia observed that they have commissioned Foreign Affairs Ministers from both countries to act quickly on the matter.
President Masisi touted the long-existing brotherly relations between Botswana and Tanzania, tracing, saying the relationship dates back from their founders, the late former Presidents Seretse Khama and Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
The Botswana leader noted that during their meeting, they also touched areas of defence and security, environment, tourism, agriculture, sports, food and production and livestock.
Other areas are education, political participation, and medicines including Covid-19 responses as well as economic development.
He invited President Samia to Botswana to learn Botswana’s experience, specifically in the mining sector, to see how the country benefits from the extractive industry.
“You will be able to see and experience how diplomatic relations have benefited Botswana in the water sector, for instance water from Angola and what the country has done with it,” he said
