Ethiopian Prime Minister to embark on three-day visit to Tanzania

Dar es Salaam. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is set to undertake a three-day official visit to Tanzania from February 29 to March 2, 2024, as the two countries seek to strengthen diplomatic ties and bolster economic collaboration.

His visit is in response to an invitation extended by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation said in a statement.

Mr Ahmed will be accorded a formal welcome at the State House in Dar es Salaam on Friday, where he will be received by the host, President Hassan.

“The primary objective of this diplomatic mission is to not only strengthen the existing ties between the two nations but also to bolster economic collaboration. Tanzania and Ethiopia have been actively engaged in areas such as trade and investment, education, culture, aviation, agriculture, livestock, immigration control, as well as defense and security,” the ministry stated.

The diplomatic relations between Tanzania and Ethiopia have deep historical roots, initiated by the founding father, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, and the late Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.

The leaders played pivotal roles in the liberation movements across the African continent and were among the 32 founding leaders of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963.

The two nations also share a cooperative partnership in the aviation sector.

According to the ministry statement, a total of 75 pilots and 25 engineers from Tanzania received specialised training in Ethiopia from 2016 to 2023.

The visit is expected to enhance collaboration between Ethiopian Airlines and Air Tanzania Company Ltd (ATCL), fostering synergy in their commercial operations.

Moreover, Tanzania and Ethiopia collaborate in the sectors such as livestock and agriculture, considering the fact that the two countries are among leading in terms of number of livestock and significant agricultural production in items such as coffee, tea, honey, vegetables, and fruits.

The two nations aim to strengthen collaboration in irrigation, agriculture technology, the use of improved seeds, and joint research endeavors.

The visit is also poised to boost cooperation in the energy sector, enabling Tanzania and Ethiopia to share experiences and build capacity in electricity production.

The collaboration is set to meet the energy needs of both countries and facilitate the commercial export of electricity by Tanzania to various nations through its membership in the East African Power Pool.

In education, the visit is anticipated to foster student exchanges between Tanzania and Ethiopia, contributing to capacity building in curriculum development. Additionally, Tanzania will have the opportunity to share its expertise by teaching Swahili in Ethiopian educational institutions.

Mr Ahmed and his delegation are scheduled to depart Tanzania on March 2, 2024, the ministry stated.