Ali Ahmed al Riyami -
As
has been well documented, Omani-East Africa ties have existed for centuries
with Tanzania in general and the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba in particular,
which has given rise to the current resurgence of bilateral trade and a number
of supportive development and social projects by the Sultanate.
A testimony to these historical ties are is the big population of people of
Omani ancestry still residing and living in Zanzibar and in other parts of East
Africa.
This deeply rooted relationship has given rise to a series of high-profile visits of senior government officials from both sides and gestures of friendship that reflect this.
As noted, the airport in Zanzibar has already been extended to resume international flights with Oman Air already operating directly to Zanzibar from Muscat, having daily flights at full and near full passenger capacity. While Zanzibar’s Health Institute was built by the Omani government in 1988 and as has been reported an additional extension to this is also to be made by the Sultanate’s government.
More recently, many Zanzibari students have linked on to the postgraduate
scholarship scheme offered by the Oman Academic Fellowship (OAF) that allows
for potential, qualified Zanzibari applicants to apply for some 23 different
Masters and PhD areas for further education abroad.This deeply rooted relationship has given rise to a series of high-profile visits of senior government officials from both sides and gestures of friendship that reflect this.
As noted, the airport in Zanzibar has already been extended to resume international flights with Oman Air already operating directly to Zanzibar from Muscat, having daily flights at full and near full passenger capacity. While Zanzibar’s Health Institute was built by the Omani government in 1988 and as has been reported an additional extension to this is also to be made by the Sultanate’s government.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Oman, and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, Zanzibar, began collaboration last year and will continue on an annual basis. While the large Jamma Mosque project is currently going on and is being built along the road connecting Zanzibar airport to the town centre.
Once completed, the mosque will be able to accommodate some 2,500 worshipers. It will be the island’s biggest mosque, replete with Omani architectural design and styling.
Increased Omani-Zanzibari trade and commercial ties have seen a much greater number of Zanzibari agricultural produce, particularly fruits, being exported to Oman. Other exports include cloves, spices, coconuts, coconut oil and timber-wood for the repairing of old Omani forts. Different levels of skilled manpower, as well as domestic workers are also being recruited from Zanzibar for employment in the Sultanate.
Omani products being imported into Zanzibar include Mudhish products, cement, power cables, dates, women’s clothing – such as abbayas, dishdashas and wizars.
In an earlier interview with the Tanzanian Ambassador to the Sultanate, Ali Ahmed Saleh, he noted the historical and fraternal ties that link the two nations and the increased commercial and social relations between them.
He said, “Both sides are very eager to extend the level of cooperation and this has been manifested by several high level exchanges that have brought about encouraging results.’’ He pointed out that “the OAF will help to build the capacity of higher education, especially in Zanzibar and the State University of Zanzibar.
“These are all clear indications of the acceptance of the leadership as well as to the issues touching the common man in Oman and Tanzania. So, the future is bright now and the relationship is on the right track rolling on to bigger activities.’’
‘’In the field of food security, Tanzania could be the food source for Oman and the other GCC countries, where they can invest in agriculture, which they can export to their countries to ensure food security is maintained. This area has seen a lot of interest, also in terms of livestock, where an Omani delegation went to Tanzania to identify the potential of importing livestock.’’
In relation to joint ventures and partnerships, he continued by noting, “We allow joint-ventures and partnerships with up to 100 per cent ownership. During the last visit of the President (to Oman) we signed an MoU for the protection and promotion of investment between Oman and Tanzania. Soon we are going to sign an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation.
“These are very important developments and in Tanzania there is proper national legislation to protect investment in Tanzania. All investments are well safeguarded by Tanzanian policy, at home as well as internationally.
“There has been a good realisation and awakening for investment between Oman and Tanzania and many of these projects are still in the planning stage. But I’m glad to say that at least now there is a good understanding. The opportunities are available and there is a need for both parties to cooperate.
Omani businessmen are already building a large abattoir being built along the coastal region of Tanzania, as well as a sugar factory that has started production. “Our motto is ‘taking our historical relations into the future’. We should not be complacent, we need to take this cooperation, this history and brotherly relations into the future.
‘’My call is, Tanzania is open to everybody to come and join us in our developmental progress. Tanzania has capacity for any project under the sun; you can do business there in agriculture, tourism, infrastructure etc and particularly in oil and gas where Tanzania is on the threshold of new development.’’
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