What to expect from Samia's visit to Turkey
President Samia Suluhu Hassan
What you need to know:
- This state visit came at an opportune time, as trading activities between Tanzania and Turkey have grown significantly in recent years, though they are still imbalanced in favour of Turkey.
Dar es Salaam. As President Samia Suluhu Hassan prepares to visit Europe, the government intends to entice Turkey’s best businesspeople to invest in the country.
According to the minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mr January Makamba, the President will visit Turkey from April 17 to 21, 2024.
“The purpose of this trip is to strengthen bilateral ties as well as expand our trade and economic relations,” Mr Makamba said.
The minister also revealed that during the visit, the two countries expect to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the sectors of higher education, technology, and innovation.
“Six MoUs have already been confirmed, but there can be more,” he said.
Mr Makamba said Turkey being among the G20 member states presents opportunities for Tanzania to deepen and diversify its relations across various sectors, ultimately contributing to the socio-economic development and well-being of both nations.
The Group of Twenty (G20) is made up of 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Russia, Türkiye, UK, and USA) and two regional bodies: the African Union and the European Union.
The members of the G20 represent around 85 percent of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), more than 75 percent of world trade, and around two-thirds of the world’s population.
According to the minister, during the state visit, President Hassan will hold talks with the counterpart head of state, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and, among other state activities, a major business forum involving both the Tanzanian and Turkish business communities.
“This is a historical visit, as it has been fourteen (14) years since the Tanzanian leader visited Turkey, and the last time a Turkish President came to the country was in 2017,” he said.
Mr Makamba said this state visit came at an opportune time, as trading activities between Tanzania and Turkey have grown significantly in recent years, though they are still imbalanced in favour of Turkey.
