Pretoria, 17 March 2023 (TDI): Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hasan has called for more security cooperation and trade with South Africa during her first visit to Pretoria on Thursday.
President Samia Hasan met with the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, and discussed to further strengthening trade opportunities.
During the visit to Pretoria, President Samia Hasan said that the two sides have agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade and investment considering that South Africa is among the main sources of direct foreign investment in Tanzania.
The Tanzanian President also highlighted that tourism and manufacturing are the leading sectors for investment.
President Cyril Ramaphosa on his part welcomed the visit of the President of Tanzania in Pretoria and said the trade volume between the countries 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.”
The discussion between the Presidents at a business forum focused on agriculture and agro-processing, oil and gas, mining, and infrastructure development.
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The two leaders also noted their countries’ long-standing relations stretching back to the anti-colonial struggle.
It is noteworthy that many South African anti-apartheid activists, who fled the country under persecution from the repressive white-minority government or joined the African National Congress’s underground armed movement, found refuge and received military training in Tanzania.
Both Presidents also discussed the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its implication on African Nations including the interruption of the supply of agriculture-related products such as fertilizers which have exacerbated the continent’s food security situation problems.
Furthermore, President Cyril Ramaphosa also urged the other African countries to align their position and approaches to ensure that the voice of Africa is further strengthened on a global stage in changing the international political landscape.
It is also to be noted that President Samia Hasan is set to host United States Vice President Kamala Harris when she visits Africa at the end of March.
