TANZANIA and Oman have vowed to foster the two countries’ bilateral cooperation which is built on strong historical ties, opening wider horizons on both sides.
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman, Mr Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi the volume of trade between his country and Tanzania stands at Oman Rial 80 million equivalent to over 485bn/-.
Tanzania’s exports to Oman include foodstuffs such as meat and other commodities, while its imports range from oil derivatives, electrical to home appliances.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr Stergomena Tax and her counterpart from Mr Al Busaidi made the pledge on the sidelines of the second session of Omani-Tanzanian Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) concluded in Muscat on Sunday.
In their addresses, the two ministers agreed to establish a joint committee to follow up on the deliberations of the meeting for the mutual benefit of both parties.
Besides, the committee will ensure all the draft agreements coined from the resolutions are completed and signed to create a legal environment of strengthening further existing relations between Tanzania and Oman.
Among areas which were deliberated upon by members of the JPC are agriculture, education, energy, trade, investment, communication, livestock and transportation.
Others include fisheries, tourism, sports, culture, minerals, immigration, and finance and fire disaster preparedness.
On the other hand, Dr Tax stressed the importance of exploiting investment opportunities between the two nations, while expressing her keenness to follow up what was agreed upon during the visit of President Samia to Oman in June this year.
Mr Al Busaidi also expressed hope that the volume of investments will grow further across various domains, opening broader horizons for the private sector on both sides.
“We have agreed to follow up on the implementation of programmes, memorandums of understanding and agreements that were signed earlier and another set of bilateral agreements to be signed between the two friendly countries in future,” he said.
The Foreign Minister noted that the Oman-Tanzania partnership scaled new heights after the visit of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan to Oman recently. Ties of cooperation in particular gained impetus in the areas of energy, tourism, fisheries and the logistic sector, he added.
Attendees of the meeting include the Deputy Minister of Energy Mr Stephen Byabato, the Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability) Prof Jamal Katundu, Deputy Permanent Secretary Ambassador Fatma Rajab, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy Mr Kheri Mahimbali and the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education in Zanzibar Ms Mwanahamisi Adam.
