Advertisement

Nyusi state visit to cement cooperation

MOZAMBICAN President Filipe Nyusi is expected to arrive today in Tanzania for a state visit
MOZAMBICAN President Filipe Nyusi

DAR ES SALAAM: MOZAMBICAN President Filipe Nyusi is expected to arrive today in Tanzania for a state visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday in Dar es Salaam, Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mr January Makamba said that from today to Thursday this week, President Nyusi will be in the country for the visit at the invitation of his counterpart, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan.

“We believe that this visit will further consolidate diplomatic relations between our two countries, especially in the areas of trade and economic cooperation,” he said.

Advertisement

He said upon arriving at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) Mr Nyusi will be received by the government high ranking officials, including from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation.

He is officially scheduled to be welcomed by President Samia at the State House in Dar es Salaam tomorrow.

Mr Makamba noted that at the State House, the two Presidents will hold a closed-door meeting prior to the official bilateral talks, thereafter their government officials will address key areas of cooperation, including security and defence, trade, education, tourism, infrastructure, oil and gas.

Furthermore, he said after the bilateral talks the two Heads of State will observe signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the fields of health, education and information and later on hold a joint press conference.

Elaborating, the minister added that President Nyusi will be honoured with a state banquet organised by host President Samia, shortly after the briefing.

He said on July 3, the Mozambican’s Head of the State will grace the opening ceremony of the 48th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair that brought businesses from various countries within and beyond the continent.

Finally, Mr Nyusi will visit Zanzibar for an official visit which upon winding up on July 4, he will fly back from the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport to Mozambique.

Highlighting the business volume between two countries, Mr Makamba said last year it reached 20 million US dollars (about 53bn/- ) with Tanzania exporting goods worth 15 million US dollars (about 40bn/-) while Mozambique importing goods valued at about 5 million US dollars (13bn/-) .

Also read: Mozambican President to pay his final visit to Tanzania

He attributed the imbalance of trade to many businesses between the two countries being conducted at the border informally.

He said it is from this background that the visit intended to boost trade between the two nations by strengthening coordination of trade conducted at the borders and heightening peace and security in Mozambique as prolonged insecurity has been undermining trade and economic activities.

In another development, Mr Makamba said that President Nyusi’s visit will serve as an opportunity to say goodbye to President Samia and the Tanzanian people as he nears the end of his term.

President Nyusi’s visit in a peaceful way is significant as Mozambique gears for the general elections scheduled to take place on October 9, this year.

Historically, Mozambique and Tanzania have maintained strong and friendly relations since Mozambique gained independence from Portugal. His party FRELIMO was established in Tanzania with the assistance of the then Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere to combat Portuguese rule.

During the civil war, Tanzania provided land for the party to establish military camps.

On the diplomatic front, Mozambique runs a High Commission in Dar es Salaam, while Tanzania has an embassy in Maputo in the country.