Presidents express confidence in deepening trade cooperation
The President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, is visiting Finland during the first days of June. The focus of the visit is on deepening the commercial and economic cooperation between Finland and Tanzania. On Tuesday, President Kikwete met with President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö.
At a joint press conference, President Sauli Niinistö and President Jakaya Kikwete both highlighted the long, stable and positive cooperation between the two countries.
“Our cooperation is moving to the next level, towards more active trade and investment,” President Jakaya Kikwete predicted.
President Niinistö said he was pleased that company visits play a major role in President Kikwete’s itinerary. Niinistö pointed out that the opportunities presented by trade between the two countries have not yet been fully taken advantage of.
At the press conference, President Kikwete highlighted the paper and timber industry and the ICT sector as potential areas for growing cooperation. Following visits to the Tytyri mine and Vuosaari harbour, President Kikwete also wondered whether the development of the Port of Dar es Salaam could also present opportunities for increased cooperation.
Building on decades of cooperation
President Jakaya Kikwete is visiting Finland at the invitation of President Sauli Niinistö. During his visit, President Kikwete will also meet with Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lenita Toivakka and Speaker of Parliament Maria Lohela. In addition to official meetings, his itinerary includes several company visits.
At the press conference, President Niinistö praised Tanzania’s efforts to resolve the Burundi crisis in cooperation with the African Union. Both President Niinistö and President Kikwete highlighted the cooperation between Finland and Tanzania in the Helsinki process aimed at “fair globalisation”. Prior to his two terms as president, Kikwete served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and co-chaired the Helsinki process with Erkki Tuomioja.
President Kikwete emphasised Tanzania’s long and stable cooperation with Finland in both international politics and development cooperation. The cooperation relationship between Finland and Tanzania began in the late 1960s.
“Through development cooperation, Finland has made a tremendous contribution to improving the living conditions of the people of Tanzania,” President Kikwete said.
Jakaya Kikwete will complete his second five-year term as the President of the United Republic of Tanzania this coming autumn. As he approaches the end of his term, President Kikwete wanted to visit Finland and other Nordic countries. Tanzania is a long-term development cooperation partner for Finland. The Tanzanian economy has developed favourably throughout the 2000s, creating a promising foundation for expanding cooperation in trade and investment.
President Kikwete is accompanied on his visit to Finland by the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Zanzibar, as well as public officials and a business delegation.