Dar eyes more diplomatic gains

PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has asked officials working in Tanzanian missions abroad to conduct assessment on economic opportunities which the country can benefit from through the existing diplomatic ties.

He also asked the embassies to establish economic forums that will bring together members of the business community and investors in various sectors of production.

Premier Majaliwa issued the instructions yesterday in Pretoria when he was speaking to officials of the Tanzania High Commission to South Africa.

He mentioned mining, tourism, communication and business as productive sectors that are to be exploited for economic gains of individuals and the country at large.

“You should continue encouraging investors to invest and do business in Tanzania, they should also be reminded to cooperate with Tanzanians, this will help in transfer of skills and technology in various sectors,” said Mr Majaliwa.

According to him, Tanzanian officials abroad have to prepare a list of goods and services that are available in Tanzania and highly needed in their working stations.

This, according to him, will play a major role in helping boost Tanzanian exports for economic gain.

“The embassies should also continue attracting more tourists to visit tourism destinations available in Tanzania,” insisted Premier Majaliwa.

Earlier, the Acting High Commissioner of Tanzania to South Africa, Peter Shija said Tanzania is in a good position to benefit from business opportunities available in South Africa.

“The opportunities are on various agricultural crops such as rice, beans, cashew-nuts and fruits,” he said.

Last month, President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed the need for the country to review its foreign policy in order to keep pace with the ongoing political, social and economic changes in the world.

She made the statement during her meeting with all the 45 Tanzanian ambassadors serving abroad who have been in the country since November 14 this year attending a meeting which, among other things, aimed at sharing their experience, challenges they are facing as well as discussing the way forward in tackling the setbacks.

President Samia said that the country needs to take a new direction in strengthening economic diplomacy which will reflect and adapt the changes taking place in the country and the world at large.

“The world economy has changed rapidly in the last decade …our foreign policy was launched 20 years ago while the last meeting for diplomats was held in 2019, we need this kind of meeting to see how we can accommodate the changes in our national foreign policy,” President Samia said.

“This session gives us time to reflect on various issues, including new security threats and well-being of our country, health and industrial revolution among others,” she added.

She said other issues which also need to be discussed include global politics and emerging conflicts of interest between giant nations which have negatively affected the prices of energy, food and currency around the world.

The president further noted that the world is also witnessing changes in the direction of the global economy, where major economic activities, including production, investment, trade, creativity and innovation have moved to Asia, which currently produces about 40 per cent of the world’s output.

“It is good for us to discuss how we can compete and how we can benefit,” she said.

The president also directed the ambassadors to deliberate on integration in the African continent, including expansion of the East African Community after increasing its members from five to seven after South Sudan and DRC joined the regional bloc.

She also tasked them to look at the Blue Economy agenda and how they can contribute to its success, and also the promotion of Kiswahili language in the world by collaborating with Tanzanians living abroad.