Tanzania, Cuba agree on more areas of cooperation

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania and Cuba yesterday agreed to continue cooperating and enhancing priority sectors such as education, agriculture, tourism and health.

In light of this, Cuba agreed to supply medical personnel to Tanzania's mainland and Zanzibar.

Vice President Philip Mpango said Tanzania and the Republic of Cuba will work together to strengthen the sectors during the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) that focus on agriculture between the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and the University of Artemisa Diaz Gonzalez of Cuba.

The other MoU on drugs and medical devices is between the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) and the Centre for State Control of Medicines and Medical Devices (CECMED) of Cuba.

He said that issues agreed upon between the two countries include Tanzania using all its means against the unfair blockade imposed on Cuba for about 60 years, leading to financial resource challenges and fuel shortages, among other things.

“We also agreed that Cuba will host a conference aimed at promoting Kiswahili in Cuba and Latin America, for which Tanzania will give support,” he said.

Further, he noted that through the Ministry of Health, they will make every effort to ensure the Tanzania Biotech Product Ltd. plant located in Kibaha district, Coast region, moves forward.

“It is a state-of-the-art Biolarvicides factory that produces Griselesf (Bs) and Bactivec, which are used to control mosquito vector-borne diseases in Africa such as malaria, to ensure it finds markets for its products in East Africa and beyond,” he said.

“I thank you for your big support in the fight against malaria through the mega project in Africa, which aims to eliminate the disease,” he said.

On his part, Republic of Cuba Vice President Salvador Mesa said his country will continue to strengthen the relationship between Cuba and Tanzania, especially in the mentioned areas, including health.

“The factory in Kibaha is a joint venture between the Tanzanian government and Cuba aimed at significantly increasing the local production of fertiliser products and reducing imports,” he said.

Explaining, he said the aim is to strengthen Kibaha’s anti-malaria factory in the Coast region, a unique institution in Africa that would produce biotech products to eliminate mosquito larvae.

Further, he thanked Tanzania for its continued support during the 60 years of blockade that have seen the country rise despite many challenges.