SEVERAL heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Tanzania have pledged to support the development of various sectors in the country in their talks with President John Magufuli and the Prime Minister, Mr Kassim Majaliwa, in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
President Magufuli met with the
Ambassadors of The Netherlands, Indian High Commissioner of India and
High Commissioner of Zambia while the prime minister met with the
Turkey, Switzerland and Ireland ambassadors as well as the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) representative in the country.
The talks took place at different
intervals at the State House and the Prime Minister’s Office. President
Magufuli assured the envoys of continued bilateral relations, inviting
them to invest in the construction of standard gauge railway line,
processing and manufacturing industries, education and health.
Zambian High Commissioner Judith
Kapijimpanga called for joint efforts to improve the TAZAMA pipeline,
Tanzania and Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) and cargo transportation
from the Dar es Salaam Port to Zambia.
Indian High Commissioner Sandeep Arya
assured Mr Magufuli that his country would invest more in business
partnerships and take part in setting up various industries in the
country to boost the economy.
In his meeting with Premier Majaliwa,
the UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Alvaro Rodriguez, expressed the
agency’s commitment to support programmes in economic development, good
governance, and gender and disaster management.
He urged the government to continue with its anti-poaching war as they (UNDP) will support thegovernment national development programmes for the next five years.
On his part, the Turkey Ambassador, Ms
Yesemin Eralp, said they were intended to cooperate with the government
by bringing in investors in the agriculture, energy, health and
construction industry as he called for the need of Tanzania to open up
an embassy in Turkey.
“We have the needed expertise and
financial and technological muscle to put up industries in Tanzania; we
believe we will work together to attain this goal so that locals will
get employment opportunities as well,” she said.
The Ireland Ambassador, Ms Fionnuala
Gilsenan, told the Premier how they have been supporting the
Agricultural Sector Development Programme, food nutrition and
fortification and government budget as she pledged for many more to
come.
“We want to support education programmes
on women and children’s rights, family planning and early marriages so
that people become more aware on the subjects and make informed
decisions,” she said.
The Switzerland Ambassador, Ms Florence
Mattli, pledged their support in the fight against corruption through
the PCCB and public education through a number of media programmes.
Meanwhile, President Magufuli also met
with special envoy from Burundi President Pierre Nkurunzinza who assured
him that the situation in that country has stabilised since the United
Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon visited them.
The envoy led by Burundi East Africa
Minister Leontina Nzeyimana said following the stable situation, the
country was ready to take over the post of East African Community (EAC)
Secretary General from Rwanda.
The envoy added that the country was set
to host five presidents from the African Union (AU) member states who
are planning to visit Burundi tomorrow.
