Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA is bridging up its trading imbalance with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at an increasing pace yearly, and the country intends to continue improving its business environment to attract more investment.
This was said by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, when she met and held talks with UAE Special Envoy Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan at the State House, in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
“UAE is Tanzania’s key partner in accelerating development and this can be reflected through their support in the improvement of infrastructure, particularly roads and business,” said President Samia.
The Head of State reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continue strengthening good relations with UAE for the prosperity of the two countries.
She acknowledged UAE’s support in further boosting the two countries diplomatic relations and accepted the invitation to attend next year’s Dubai International Expo to be held in March.
For his part, Sheikh Al Nahyan commended President Samia for upholding the existing relations between the two countries, while presenting a letter carrying a special message from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of UAE.
The King has sent his condolences to the President following the demise of former President the late John Magufuli. He congratulated Ms Samia for assuming the Presidency of Tanzania.
Sheikh Nahyan pledged to strengthen further the existing relations and cooperation with Tanzania in different areas including extending support on issues relating to gender parity and women rights.
He described President Samia as a good example of women in Tanzania and in the world at large.
“UAE supports the initiatives taken by President Samia to step up the fight against Covid-19…we are ready to assist Tanzania in securing vaccines,” he said.
Currently, Tanzania exports goods worth 573 million US dollars (about 1.2tri/-) to the UAE, while the latter imports goods amounting to 1.38 billion US dollars (about 3.2tri/-) from the country.
WITS data shows that in 2018, China topped Tanzania’s importation list where Beijing accounted for 20.7 per cent of total Dar es Salaam imports.
The second in the list was India with 14.3 per cent and the third was United Arab Emirates (UAE) with 10.2 per cent.
Meanwhile, President Samia will today begin a two-day State Visit in Burundi following an invitation from President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi.
According to a statement issued yesterday by the Directorate of Presidential Communications, while in Burundi the President will hold talks with her counterpart President Ndayishimiye, and later witness the signing of several bilateral agreements.
The President’s schedule also includes a press conference as well as attends and addresses Business Forum with the members of the business community from Tanzania and Burundi to deliberate on the various opportunities existing in the two countries.
