DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA and Barbados have expressed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations by developing and enhancing the tourism sector and promoting the clean cooking energy campaign.
During the meeting with Barbados Prime Minister, Ms Mia Mottley at her residence in Bridgetown, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko said that under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania continues to step up implementation of its clean cooking energy campaign.
The campaign aims to enable 80 per cent of energy users to transition away from non-clean energy sources by 2034. Dr Biteko stressed that Tanzania is proudly promoting the 10-year strategy, which aims at reducing the harmful impacts of using non-clean energy, such as environmental pollution, respiratory diseases and deaths.
“In January this year, we hosted an African Heads of State summit (M300) in Dar es Salaam, aimed at enabling 300 million people across Africa who currently lack electricity to access it within the next five years. Afterward, we will chart a path forward based on the results achieved,” said Dr Biteko.
He said Tanzania’s participation in the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) summit held in Barbados demonstrates its firm commitment to achieving positive outcomes.
He added that there are many areas for collaboration, allowing citizens from both sides to achieve development and mutual prosperity. Earlier, the Barbados Prime Minister, Ms Mottley said there is need for the two nations to cooperate in promoting tourism, which is among crucial sectors for economic growth.
“We need a joint strategy and collaboration for promoting tourism between Barbados and the East African countries including Tanzania. There are many tourism attractions that could benefit both parties, including hospitality-related issues,” the Barbados Premier said.
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She added that other areas of collaboration include training in technical skills between Caribbean countries and various African nations, while stressing the importance of improving markets and exchanging experts in various sectors through specific agreements.
Moreover, the Premier stressed the need for experts in the water and infrastructure sectors, suggesting that there is potential for exchanging professionals to build mutual experience in various sectors, based on agreements to be made.
Dr Biteko commended Premier Mottley for the proposals, saying they could lead to positive outcomes after being analysed by experts in the relevant sectors through the ministries involved in diplomatic affairs.
Dr Biteko’s meeting with the Premier Mottley marked the conclusion of his official visit to the country, where he participated in the SEforALL Conference, as well as various stakeholder meetings focusing on improving the energy sector for the benefit of both nations.
During the visit, the Dr Biteko was accompanied by the Zanzibar’s Minister for Water, Energy and Minerals, Shaib Hassan Kaduara, the Tanzanian Ambassador to Cuba, Mr Humphrey Polepole, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Eng Felichesmi Mramba and the President’s advisor, Ms Angellah Kairuki.
