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PM woos Saudi Arabia investors

DODOMA: PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has encouraged Saudi Arabian investors to invest in Tanzania’s agriculture and fisheries sector.

The Premier also assured the Middle Eastern country of the quality of meat it imports from Tanzania.

“I recognise Saudi Arabia’s intent to invest in agriculture and when they are ready, we will welcome them,” said Mr Majaliwa when he met with the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Yahya Ahmed Okeish, in Dodoma yesterday.

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“I believe they will use this opportunity to develop agriculture. I would like to take this opportunity to invite Saudi Arabian companies to invest in deep sea fishing, where there are tuna fish species,” he added.

Tanzania has recently opened a new meat export market in Saudi Arabia, with 1,400 tonnes of the product purchased by the country until June of this year.

It is projected that the new Saudi Arabian market will import around 20,000 tonnes of meat per month.

Mr Majaliwa noted that Tanzania has plenty of areas for investment in both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

He commended Saudi Arabia for agreeing to import meat from Tanzania and asked them to increase the volume of trade in this area.

“Tanzania will continue to provide you (Saudi Arabia) with quality meat,” emphasised the Prime Minister.

The PM applauded the Saudi Arabian government for its decision to introduce direct flights from Saudi Arabia to Tanzania, saying flights will help strengthen tourism between the two countries.

“I have been informed that your airline will also soon start direct flights from Saudi Arabia to Zanzibar. This will not only increase the number of tourists but also benefit those who go to Saudi Arabia for Umrah and Hajj,” he pointed out.

Furthermore, Mr Majaliwa praised the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and his Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for the country’s successful bid to host World Expo 2030. Saudi Arabia won the bid with 119 votes, surpassing other cities such as Busan (the capital of the Republic of Korea) and Rome (Italy).

The World Expo 2030 is expected to be held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, from October 2030 to March 2031.

Earlier, Ambassador Okeish expressed his condolences to the Tanzanian government following the recent mudflow disaster in Katesh Township, which claimed the lives of more than 80 people and left others injured.

The diplomat also congratulated the government for providing humanitarian aid to the survivors and restoring social services to them.

Ambassador Okeish revealed that he had met with Saudi Arabian businessmen who not only agreed to visit Tanzania but were also ready to form a Tanzania-Saudi Arabia joint Business Council.