Hon. Membe roots for closer trade ties with Mexico

The government has expressed its commitment to strengthen cooperation and partnership with Mexico and explore potential areas of investment in the country, particularly in mining and energy.

This was said on Tuesday in Dar es Salaam by Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Bernard K. Membe at the inauguration of a Mexican consulate in Tanzania.  Already the Mexican government has appointed Mohammad Reza Saboor to be its first honorary consul.

Hon. Membe said the government would enhance its relations with Mexico and look into the possibility of developing untapped resources.

"Trade and investment between the two countries is minimal and there is a need for both countries to encourage and promote growth in these important sectors in our relations," he said.

He commended the opening of consular office in Tanzania as an important step in strengthening further the existing relations between the two contries.

He revealed that the government is planning to open the honorary consul in Mexico to reciprocate the decision of Mexican government.

For his part, the Ambassador of Mexico to East Africa, Luis Campuzano, said there are several areas of common interest to develop as well as opportunities to explore to strengthen presence of Mexico in Tanzania and vice versa.

He mentioned areas of health, security, agriculture, tourism and infrastructure as some of the promising ones.

He said they can offer to the Tanzanians their friendship and cooperation and experience in key areas as housing development, maize processing and conservation, human capital and promotion of scholarships

Speaking earlier Reza promised to cement existing ties between two countries which was initiated with introduction of sisal plant in 1893.

He said the history of sisal industry in Tanganyika has an air of romance it made Tanga region a major exporter of the crop in the world.

Source:  The Guardian