Tanzania’s first female President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has urged more security cooperation and trade between her country and South Africa.
Hassan, on a trip to South Africa, met President Cyril Ramaphosa in the capital Pretoria on Thursday where her delegation of Cabinet ministers discussed trade opportunities and possible agreements with their South African counterparts.
“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 among the industries under discussion at the business forum 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.
This is Hassan’s 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.
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 among the industries under discussion at the business forum 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.
