hoto: Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania and His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa
Photo Credit: Dirco/GCIS
16 March 2023
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, on a state visit to South Africa, urged more security cooperation and trade between the two countries.
Hassan, Tanzania’s first female leader, met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the capital Tshwane/Pretoria on Thursday, where her delegation of Cabinet Ministers discussed trade opportunities and possible agreements with their South African counterparts.
This is President’s Hassan, first official visit to South Africa since she became president of Tanzania following the death of her predecessor John Magufuli in 2021.
“We have agreed to enhance our cooperation in the areas of trade and investment considering that South Africa is among the main sources of direct foreign investment in Tanzania,” said Hassan. She added that tourism and manufacturing are the leading sectors for investment.
President Ramaphosa said trade volumes between Tanzania and South Africa continued to increase but could be improved further.
“A key aspect of our bilateral cooperation is the promotion of trade and investment between our two countries,” said Ramaphosa. “President Hassan and I will be joining the South Africa-Tanzania Business Forum later today, which brings together business people from our respective countries.”
He said that among the industries under discussion at the business forums are agriculture and agro-processing, oil and gas, mining, and infrastructure development.
The two leaders also noted their countries’ long-standing relations stretching back to the anti-colonial struggle.
Among global challenges, the leaders noted the effect of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on African nations, including the interruption of the supply of agriculture-related products such as fertilisers which have exacerbated the continent’s food security situation problems.
Hassan is set to host United States Vice President Kamala Harris when she visits Africa at the end of March as the U.S. continues its outreach to African countries.
Harris’s trip to Africa follows visits by the U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, first lady Jill Biden, and the current trip of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Photo Credit: Dirco
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