DAR ES SALAAM, Feb 10 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has highlighted the agreed-upon new areas of cooperation between Tanzania and Poland, aimed at fostering deeper ties for mutual benefit.
At the State House in Dar es Salaam on Friday, President Samia and her counterpart President of Poland Andrzej Duda made their commitments shortly after holding bilateral talks, followed by a joint press briefing.
Samia underscored the significant agreements reached to enhance existing partnerships and attract investments in strategic sectors. In particular, she underscored Poland’s commitment to supporting Tanzania’s development endeavours, citing the Export Credit Insurance Corporation Joint Stock Company (KUKE)’s pledge to bolster the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project.
“I have expressed my gratitude to President Duda for his nation’s readiness, via KUKE, to offer commercial banks insurance for the SGR project’s implementation for the Makutupora- Tabora and Tabora – Isaka sections, or SGR Lot 3 and 4. “This infrastructure initiative, poised to revolutionise connectivity and trade across the region, received a vital boost through Poland’s backing,” she said.
Identifying key areas of cooperation, President Samia outlined a diverse spectrum of sectors primed for collaboration. These include education, agriculture, trade, investment, tourism, and information communication technology (ICT).
The Head of State further said during bilateral talks, agreements were also reached to forge the existing partnerships and attract more investments in strategic sectors such as industry, energy, minerals, natural gas and the blue economy.
In a historic milestone, President Duda embarked on a landmark visit to Tanzania, marking the first time a Polish Head of State has set foot in the East African nation.
The visit underscores the enduring bond of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, which has flourished since 1962. Samia said Poland, being Tanzania’s largest partners in the European Union (EU), has played a pivotal role in bolstering various sectors of Tanzania’s economy. Notably, it has actively contributed to developmental initiatives, particularly in healthcare.
“Through projects aimed at enhancing healthcare services in several hospitals and health centres across Tanzania, Poland has demonstrated its commitment to fostering progress and wellbeing in the nation,” Samia noted. Poland provides such support in five hospitals namely Aga Khan Hospital, Chanika Health Centre, Temeke and Mwananyamala Regional Referral Hospital and Nyamagana District Hospital.
Samia stated that the visit would also serve as a forum to strengthen business links between Tanzania and Poland. With Poland’s powerful economy, both countries want to explore prospects for further collaboration across varied industries.
Expressing gratitude for Poland’s support, she emphasised the importance of education, agriculture, trade, investment, tourism, and ICT cooperation in advancing the nation’s development agenda. In terms of tourism, she stated that Tanzania has seen an increase in visitor numbers from Poland, making it one of the leading tourist-sending countries to Tanzania, particularly to destinations like Zanzibar.
According to last year’s figures, around 41,000 tourists from Poland visited Tanzania, with 6,000 tourists from Poland visiting last month. To boost tourism and trade, she stated that they had asked specialists to make efforts to allow direct flights from Poland to Tanzania.
“With that, I will use the opportunity of our conversation to invite investors from Poland to exploit investment opportunities in the tourism sector, including laying the groundwork for increased cooperation in the hospitality sector, including hotel construction,” she added.
Moreover, Samia said their discussions delved into potential investment opportunities, with a focus on sectors where Poland’s expertise, such as ICT and industrial production, can be harnessed to drive mutual growth.
She said initiatives such as the establishment of a modern LED light company in Tanzania exemplify the shared vision for leveraging Poland’s technological prowess to propel Tanzania’s industrialisation agenda forward.
However, President Samia said challenges in ongoing projects, such as the tractor assembly and silo projects, were also addressed, with both sides committing to finding viable solutions and deepening cooperation in agriculture and related sectors. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
