Tanzania- Türkiye partnership to benefit culture, arts and sports

TANZANIA: TANZANIA and Türkiye have agreed to effectively capitalise on the existing diplomatic relations to strengthen cultural ties.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Sports, Gerson Msigwa said this yesterday after he held talks with the Turkish Ambassador to Tanzania Mehmet Gulluoglu, to discuss how the existing diplomatic relations will benefit both nations in the sector of arts, culture and sports.

Msigwa said there is great hope for the two nations to open up a range of opportunities in the sector, including Kiswahili language teaching experts, building a major cultural centre and developing sports infrastructure in Tanzania.

“The Turkish government is willing to build a cultural centre in Dar es Salaam to promote the cultures of both sides.

“If we agree, the Turkish government will be ready to start the construction of the facility immediately,” he explained.

Msigwa said in October last year, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries was signed in Dar es Salaam, by the Minister for Culture, Arts and Sports Damas Ndumbaro and Türkiye’s Ambassador to Tanzania Mehmet Gulluoglu.

Msigwa said the Turkish government is ready to provide camps for the national team as they prepare for various tournaments.

“The Turkish government has shown willingness to provide support for national teams to camp in Türkiye to prepare for various international assignments,” he said.

In addition, he said the Turkish government is ready to work with Tanzania in the arts sector, where Tanzanian filmmakers will have the opportunity to visit the European nation to learn more about the industry.

“Türkiye is one of the countries that are doing well in film industry globally, therefore we hope through exchange programme it will help a lot of filmmakers in Tanzania to do well in the area,” he explained.