Oman, Tanzania to ink pacts
Sultan Qaboos of Oman
Tuesday, October 9, 2012 / Dhul Qaada 22, 1433 AH
By Hasan Kamoonpuri — MUSCAT — A number of key agreements and events will see the light of day during the forthcoming state visit of Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kilwete to Oman next week. The Tanzania Business Forum will be held on October 16 at Al Bustan Palace Hotel at 9.30 am in which President Kilwete will deliver keynote address. At the end of this important event, Omani and Tanzanian authorities will sign an agreement to establish Oman-Tanzania Business Council.
This was stated by Tanzania’s Ambassador to the Sultanate, Ali Ahmed Saleh, at a press conference here yesterday. Speaking to the Observer on the sidelines of the conference, Saleh said during this visit, the two sides will sign an agreement on the “Promotion and Protection of Investment”. This, along with the Oman-Tanzania Business Council, will act as a catalyst to unlock the potential of bilateral trade and investment between the two sides, he stressed.
This was stated by Tanzania’s Ambassador to the Sultanate, Ali Ahmed Saleh, at a press conference here yesterday. Speaking to the Observer on the sidelines of the conference, Saleh said during this visit, the two sides will sign an agreement on the “Promotion and Protection of Investment”. This, along with the Oman-Tanzania Business Council, will act as a catalyst to unlock the potential of bilateral trade and investment between the two sides, he stressed.
An agreement on “Political Consultation” will also be signed, which will go a long way in bringing the two brotherly countries closer in important fields. The two countries will also sign an agreement on “Records and Documents”, which holds out much significance in view of the fact that the two sides have a long-standing period of shared history and sharing some documents and achieves may help unearth important historical facts about the relations.
Last but not the least, a deal on facilitating co-operation between the two countries in the field of higher education is also slated to be signed during this visit. Saleh said Oman and Tanzania have longstanding and cordial relations and the forthcoming state visit of President Kilwete is aimed at opening up new vistas of opportunities so that the bilateral relations reach the level they deserve.
Oman and Tanzania enjoy very “unique and special” bonds of affection, mainly because Oman is the only country outside of Africa, where many people speak Swahili language and Oman shares blood and cultural relations with Tanzania. Over the years, the two sides have witnessed important exchanges of visits with the first president late Julius Nyerere having visited Oman in 1985 and the then president of Zanzibar, Dr Salmeen Amour Juma, also visited Oman. There have also been many ministerial exchanges between Oman and Tanzania, with the Tanzanian Foreign Minister having visited the Sultanate in 2011.
The forthcoming visit of President Kilwete assumes special significance because there is a strong determination on the sides to unlock the full potential for investment and trade in all fields of human endeavour. Tanzania, said Saleh, holds out great opportunities for investment in its livestock and fisheries sector, and farm production. Blessed with millions of hectares of fertile land, water and very suitable weather, Tanzania can be an ideal place for Oman to invest and grow its farm products to meet its requirements. This is how Oman can transform itself from being a net importer to exporter of fruits and vegetables and achieve self-sufficiency in these items and also food security.
Since Tanzania has recently discovered several wells of oil and gas, the two sides can establish linkages in this field for mutual benefits. Oman can also fruitfully invest in a big way in Tanzania’s fast growing infrastructure, roads, bridges, hotels, resorts, as well as in the transport and shipping sector. The manufacturing sector too offers promising investment opportunities for the Omani government and business community, he added.
Most importantly, he, said Tanzania with a population of 41 million people, offers access to a market of 150 million people in its neighbouring countries through the Port of Dar-es-Salaam.
Tanzania is home to some of the world’s most attractive tourist destinations and in recent years there has been an increase in the number of Omani visitors travelling to Tanzania, which has been catalysed by the resumption of direct flights to Tanzania by Oman Air. This has been a building factor in consolidating trade and cultural ties between the two countries.
Tanzania is home to some of the world’s most attractive tourist destinations and in recent years there has been an increase in the number of Omani visitors travelling to Tanzania, which has been catalysed by the resumption of direct flights to Tanzania by Oman Air. This has been a building factor in consolidating trade and cultural ties between the two countries.
Source: Oman Daily Observer
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