TANZANIA: THE Royal Tour programme has continued to pay off, this time it has attracted the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations (APIMONDIA) congress to be held in Tanzania, for the first time ever.
APIMONDIA’s Regional Commission for Africa president David Mukomana, said this is the major bi-annual congress and Tanzania becomes second country after South Africa to host it since it had started in the year 1895.
Mr Mukomana noted that South Africa hosted the congress in 2001 in Durban but with very low attendance due to September 11 attack and lack of continental marketing because of absence of regional commissions then to promote the congress at continental level.
The congress is organised across the five continents, namely Europe, Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania.
“Interestingly, the efforts of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan had already opened the gates through the Tanzania Royal Tour whose theme had nothing to do with beekeeping but promoting Tanzania as a tourist destination,” he stated.
The goodwill and visibility that was created about Tanzania made it easy for Tanzania to convince members to support the country’s bid to host the 50th APIMONDIA Congress in the year 2027, he added.
“I would like to congratulate the government of Tanzania, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) for the successful bid submitted and won to host the APIMONDIA Congress in Arusha City,” he said.
The congress aims to facilitate the exchange of information and discussions where beekeepers, scientists, honey-traders, agents for development, technicians and legislators meet to discuss and learn from each other.
In July 2022, Tanzania, through the TFS submitted its bid to host the 50th APIMONDIA Congress.
Tanzanian delegation was dispatched to Santiago, Chile for bid promotion to bring the congress to the country.
“Special mention should be made about the role of the private sector played in Chile to support the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and TFS. I congratulate the PMM Group for financial support and promotional materials, a gesture that became a testimony that Tanzania or Africa at large was ready to host the biggest apiculture event,” he stressed.
Due to the high-profile nature of the 50th APIMONDIA Congress as a milestone congress, there was a special requirement for the bidders to have a venue with the capacity to host at least 4000 participants during the official opening and closing ceremonies.
This condition created challenge for Tanzania given the fact that current conference facilities can only hold up to 1500 delegates per seating.
Tanzanian bid was accepted on condition that the Mount Kilimanjaro International Convention Centre (MKICC) will be constructed and completed by July 2025.
Commenting, PMM Group Executive Chairperson, Dr Judith Mhina, said they decided to be main sponsors for Tanzania delegation in Chile to support the bid submission.
“The five-day 50th APIMONDIA Congress is a big opportunity for Tanzania because it will bring in over 6000 visitors. The congress will spend 10,000 US dollars per day and participants will have chance to visit our tourist attractions.
