DAR ES SALAAM: REPUBLIC of Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló will today arrive in Tanzania for a three-day working visit, on a mission to enhance and strengthen diplomatic relations and economic cooperation between the two countries.
His visit is purposely set to explore areas of collaboration in various strategic sectors, including trade, investments and agriculture, especially cashew nut production.
Furthermore, the visit aims at enhancing and boosting the trade volume and investment through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which both countries have ratified.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Dr Samweli Shelukindo, announced this in Dar es Salaam while speaking to journalists on behalf of Minister January Makamba.
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He said through this visit the two countries are going to forge a partnership that will form a framework to enable businesspeople from Tanzania explore products they can sell in Guiena-Bissau and fortify trade volume.
“We are fully confident that this visit will provide an opportunity to cooperate in various areas, including business and tourism sectors,” said Dr Shelukindo, adding that “statistics show the trade volume is not very good.”
From 2016 to 2021, the trade balance was approximately 200,000 US dollars due to low exports and imports. Speaking on cashew nut production, Dr Shelukindo stated that Tanzania expects to discuss extensively with Guinea-Bissau since the west African country is major producer of cashew nuts with a significant amount being sold to India.
He said 90 per cent of the produced cashews in GuineaBissau is exported. The crop is a major source of income for smallscale farmers in GuineaBissau as it contributes to 80 per cent of their income and 10 per cent of the country’s GDP.
“Therefore, it is expected that during this visit, the issue of cashew nut production, which is also grown in Tanzania, especially in the southern regions such as Mtwara and Lindi, will be extensively discussed,” he said.
He also said the visit is expected to provide an opportunity for both countries to discuss on how to continue the fight against and control the killer disease – Malaria, considering that President Embaló is the Chairperson of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), whose secretariat is based in Tanzania.
The coalition was established in 2009 by all 55 African countries leaders with the goal of eradicating malaria by 2030.
Detailing on the itinerary of the visit, Dr Shelukindo pointed out that President Embaló and his delegation will arrive at the Julius Nyerere International Airport and received by Minister Makamba.
On June 22, 2024, President Embaló will be officially welcomed at the State House in Dar es Salaam by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
After the reception, the two Heads of State will hold private and bilateral talks to discuss various areas of cooperation.
During the talks, the two Presidents are expected to discuss measures to enhance trade and investments between the two countries, with a focus on leveraging the opportunities to come with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
They will also explore ways to promote bilateral trade, identify potential sectors for investment and discuss strategies to overcome trade barriers.
Furthermore, Dr Shelukindo unveiled that among other things President Embaló will visit the ALMA Secretariat, the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) which is located at Ubungo External in Dar es Salaam and the ongoing construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project.
Tanzania and GuineaBisau have a longstanding relationship which dates back since independence struggles initiated by both Mwalimu Nyerere and the Guinea-Bissau’s freedom fighter Amilcar Cabral.
Amílcar Cabral was a freedom fighter who collaborated closely with Mwalimu Nyerere to ensure that African countries were liberated.
The relationship has prevailed, with the two countries continuing to cooperate through various international organisations, including the African Union (AU) and
