Tanzania and Oman sign Agreement and MoU on Political Consultation Exchange

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP) (2nd left), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation together with H.E. Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman signing Agreed Minutes of the Areas for Cooperation between Tanzania and Oman.  The two Ministers also signed Memorandum of Understanding on Political Understanding Exchange, today at Hyatt Regency (Kilimanjaro) Hotel in Dar es Salaam.  Others in the photo are Mr. Benjamin Msuya (left), Legal Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Tanzania) and his counterpart Mr. Isaka (right) from the Sultanate of Oman. 

Hon. Membe and H.E. Abdullah exchanging Agreed Minutes of the Areas for Cooperation that included sectors of agriculture, infrastructure, railway, trade, industry, trade, investment, energy and minerals, livestock production and fisheries development, and others.  The two countries engaged in the first meeting of Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation held for two days from February 24 to 25, 2013 in Hyatt Regency (Kilimanjaro) Hotel in Dar es Salaam.

  

Hon. Membe and H.E. Abdullah shake hands, cementing further economic and political cooperation between the two countries.

Hon. Membe and H.E. Abdullah exchanging Memorandum of Understanding between the United Republic of Tanzania and the Sultanate of Oman on Political Consultation Exchange.

Delegates from both countries that comprised of Government and Private Sectors  were in attendance to witness the signing of Agreed Minutes and the MoU on Political Consultation Exchange .

Mr. John M. Haule (2nd right), Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation exchanges views with Ambassador Simba Yahya (right), Director of the Department of Middle East in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Also in the photo is H.E. Ali Ahmed Saleh (left), Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania to Oman welcomes H.E. Abdullah.

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP) (left), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation presents a gift of a mural depicting parts of Zanzibar's buildings and streets to H.E. Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman.  

A group photo with Delegates comprised of both Government and Private Sectors from both countries.  Standing in the front role is Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP) (left - 1st row), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation and H.E. Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah (right - 1st row), Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman.  

All photos by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago 

Mhe. Membe akutana kwa mazungumzo na Naibu Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje wa China

Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Mhe. Bernard K. Membe (Mb.) (kushoto) akiwa na Naibu wake Mhe. Mahadhi Juma Maalim (Mb.) walipokutana kwa mazungumzo  na ujumbe kutoka Jamhuri ya Watu wa China ukiongozwa na Naibu Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje wa nchi hiyo Mhe. Zhai Jun (hayupo pichani)

Mhe. Membe na Mhe. Maalim wakiendelea na mazungumzo na ujumbe huo kutoka China kuhusu masuala mbalimbali ya ushirikiano kati ya Tanzania na China. Kulia kwa Mhe. Membe ni Balozi Rajabu Gamaha, Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa.

Mhe. Zhai Jun (katikati), Naibu Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje wa Jamhuri ya Watu wa China akimsikiliza Mhe. Membe (hayupo pichani) wakati wa mazungumzo yao. Wengine katika picha ni Mhe. Lu Youqing (kulia), Balozi wa China hapa nchini na Bi. Zhang Jing, Mkalimani wa ujumbe huo.

Mhe. Zhai Jun, Naibu Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje wa China akizungumza na Mhe. Membe (hayupo pichani) na wajumbe wengine.

Mhe. Membe na Mhe. Maalim wakimsikiliza Mhe. Zhai Jun (hayupo pichani) wakati wa mazungumzo yao. Wengine katika picha ni Wajumbe  wa Tanzania wakati wa mazungumzo hayo.

Mhe. Membe akisisitiza jambo wakati wa mazungumzo hayo huku Mhe Zhai Jun na wajumbe wengine wakisikiliza

Wajumbe wa China na Tanzania kwa pamoja wakimsikiliza Mhe. Membe wakati wa mazungumzo hayo.

Wajumbe wengine wa Tanzania waliokuwepo kwenye mazungumzo hayo. Kulia ni Bw. Assah Mwambene, Mkurugenzi wa Idara ya Habari katika Wizara ya Habari, Vijana, Utamaduni na Michezo.

Mhe. Membe akimsindikiza Mhe. Zhai Jun mara baada ya mazungumzo yao

Mhe. Membe akiagana na Mhe. Zhai Jun.

Mhe. Membe akiteta jambo na Balozi Lu Youqing mara baada ya mazungumzo huku Mhe. Maalim akisikiliza kwa makini.

Tanzania pledges to help restore peace in DRC

Tanzania pledges to help restore peace in DRC

By DAILY NEWS Reporter 


PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete has assured the international community that Tanzania will play its part in making sure that peace prevails in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Speaking during the signing ceremony of the peace deal of the DRC held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Kikwete said the people of the DRC had suffered for too long.

He insisted that they now deserve a break. Leaders from Africa's Great Lakes Region nations signed a new peace deal aimed at bringing stability to the war-torn east of the DRC and will enable the countries to send a collective total of 2,500 troops to DRC.

"The signatures we have just appended to the Framework are a solemn undertaking and commitment to deliver on the aspirations of the people of DRC and the Great Lakes Region for peace, security, stability and cooperation.

"On behalf of the government and people of the United Republic of Tanzania, I promise that we will play our part accordingly," the president noted. He stressed that people of DRC needed peace and security so they pursue economic development activities.

"They deserve to live a better life; a life where their safety and security is assured and guaranteed; a life where they pre-occupy themselves with more important things for improving their living conditions," the president told the gathering.

President Kikwete also commended the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Kimoon, for the great initiative and the AU Commission Chairperson, Ms Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, for the leadership which made this deal possible. Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary- general, witnessed the signing on Sunday at the African Union's headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The presidents of the DRC, Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia either attended or delegated the power to sign the deal. According to the UN, the "peace framework agreement" could lead to the creation of a special UN intervention brigade in eastern DRC to combat rebel groups and renew political efforts.

Reports from Mugunga camp for internally displaced persons outside Goma, said people were optimistic that the agreement was the beginning of something. Mugunga is host to tens of thousands of Congolese people who had to flee their homes following violence in the east in November 2012.

The DRC's mineral-rich east has been ravaged by numerous armed groups, with new rebel movements spawned on a regular basis, some of them with backing from neighbouring countries. The latest surge in violence was in 2012 and culminated in the rebel March 23 Movement (M23) force briefly seizing the key town of Goma last November.

M23, which was not invited to yesterday's event, was founded by former fighters of an ethnic-Tutsi rebel group whose members were integrated into the regular army under a peace deal whose terms they claim were never fully delivered. The group's main demand now is the full implementation of a peace accord signed on March 23, 2009.

M23 controls part of Rutshuru region, an unstable but fertile territory that lies in mineral-rich North Kivu province and borders on Rwanda and Uganda. Several of its leaders have been hit by UN sanctions over alleged atrocities. The group has been accused of raping women and girls, using child soldiers and killing civilians. Peace talks have been held in Uganda, but so far have made little headway.

Hon. Membe's speech during the Tanzania-Oman JPC Meeting

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation gives his opening remarks during the Meeting of the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation between Tanzania and Oman.  The meeting has been held since 24 February, 2013 at Hyatt Regency (Kilimanjaro) Hotel in Dar es Salaam and is expected to be concluded today. 

Delegation from Oman listening to Hon. Membe's opening remarks.

Tanzania Delegation that included Government and Private Institutions also were in attendance.

            OPENING STATEMENT BY HON. BERNARD KAMILLIUS MEMBE (MP), MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE TANZANIA – OMAN JOINT PERMANENT COMMISSION OF COOPERATION SCHEDULED 24^th FEBRUARY, 2013

Honourable Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman,

Honorable Ministers from the United Republic of Tanzania,

Honorable Ministers accompanying the Head of Delegation of Oman,

Distinguished Senior Officials of both Delegation

Distinguished Delegates from Tanzania and Oman,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to welcome home Honourable Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman and your delegation to Tanzania, and to this First Joint Permanent Commission between the United Republic of Tanzania and the Sultanate of Oman.

Tanzania is both second and first home to some of Omani’s generations. History reminds us that once the headquarters of the Sultanate of Oman was in Zanzibar. The legacy and influence of Omani presence is well traced in both Zanzibar and Tanzania mainland. We share the history, Swahili language and many cultural aspects. Today we are determined to share prosperity and the future.

            Distinguished Delegates

This first meeting of the Joint Permanent Commission between Tanzania and Oman is indeed a testimony of a renewed interest by our Governments of Tanzania and Oman. Our two countries share long cultural, historical and blood relations. We have cooperating very well informally for centuries. It is about time to formalize our relations through this formal commission, a rightful legal framework to ensure our cooperation further enhanced and strengthened.

As we are all aware a more fruitful cooperation between any two countries highly depends on a properly structured legal framework that binds the two countries together. We therefore call this meeting to chart out thematic discussions on issues of common concern and interest to our two brotherly countries such as, Housing, Water Supply, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Transport, Infrastructure, Health, Natural Resources, Tourism, Trade, Industry, Energy and Minerals, Education and Labour Matters.

Distinguished Delegates

The memories of the successful State Visit of H.E Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania in the Sultanate of Oman in October, 2012, are still very fresh to us. On that visit, the two sides signed three (3) Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding. These include:

• Agreement on Investment Promotion and Reciprocal Protection;
• Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Archives;
• Memorandum of Understanding on Establishment of Joint Business Council so as to facilitate and speed up investment and business between our two brotherly countries.

Internal negotiations are continuing at different stages in regard to the other bilateral agreements and Memorandum of Understanding between our Governments are in different status. The completion and signing of these agreements are crucial towards putting in place a strong foundation for cooperation in different sectors. I therefore urge our two sides to expedite the negotiation process so that we can sign the MoUs at our earliest opportunity. These remaining draft agreements and Memoranda are:-

a)    The Draft Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations between Oman and the United Republic of Tanzania:

b)    The Draft Agreement on Higher Education between the United Republic of Tanzania and Oman.

c)     The Draft Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Fiscal Evasion:

d)    The Draft Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Cooperation between the United Republic of Tanzania and Oman:

e)    The Draft Agreement on labour Matters.

Your Excellency and Distinguished Delegates

The Government of Tanzania very much welcomed the introduction of the Oman Air Service to Dar es Salaam on 3^rd June, 2010, as a result of the signing of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between our two countries. We are glad to note that the Airline increased the frequency of flights from just a few per week to daily services. It is no doubt that we will record in near future increased contacts between our peoples.

Distinguished Delegates

Official records of trade between Tanzania and Oman stood is by all account low. This statistics is definitely missing the blossoming informal trade between our people, as a result of long existing family ties.

I would like to therefore urge our two countries to make concerted efforts to use the said legal framework to create an enabling environment in which public and private sector entities can invest in each other’s economy. The strategic competitive advantages on the Oman side (ample capital and technical know-how) if combined with the huge comparative advantages (land, natural resources and labour force) on the Tanzania side, will create the required synergy for sustainable development and mutual economic benefit to both sides.

 I would like also to renew our Government’s invitation to Omani business people to invest in the various sectors of our economy. I assure that Tanzania has a very conducive investment regime that is among the best in the region. Tanzania should be a launch pad for Oman business and investment to the South and East Africa markets.  Investing in Tanzania gives you access to the SADC Region and as well as to the East African Community member countries, with a 200 million market population.   I also urge the Government of Oman to open its doors and allow Tanzanian good and services to enter into the Omani economy.

Your Excellency

To that effect, closer co-operation between the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) and Zanzibar Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and their Omani counterpart should therefore, be encouraged through the Joint Business Council between the two countries as this would boost up trade and investments and further strengthen these ties.  

Your Excellency

It is quite difficult to explain the strong relations between Oman and Tanzania in a one speech, rather in volume of books. It suffices to take this opportunity to reiterate Tanzania’s confidence in our relations, and our resolve to deepening and strengthening them for the good of our successive generations. We remain grateful to H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and His Majesty Sultan Qaboos for their blessings and personal support to strengthen the relations between our two countries.

With this few remarks I once again say to our dear Omani brothers
“karibuni sana mujisikie mko nyumbani ndugu zetu wa Oman”.

AHSANTENI KWA KUNISIKILIZA

Tanzania-Oman for better economic cooperation

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minster for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation earlier today held a tête-à-tête meeting with H.E. Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsive for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, prior to Official Opening of the Tanzania-Oman Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPC).  The meeting officially commenced today and is expected to end on February 25, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency (Kilimanjaro) Hotel in Dar es Salaam. 

Hon. Membe and H.E. Abdullah share a laughter during their tête-à-tête meeting.

Mr. John M. Haule, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, gives his welcoming  remarks to Hon. Membe.

Hon. Membe gives his opening remarks during the Tanzania-Oman Joint Permanent Commission.

Hon. Membe continues during his opening remarks.

H.E. Abdulla gives his opening remarks during the meeting. 

Hon. Membe opens one of the clusters. 

Hon. Membe opens one of the clusters during the Tanzania/Oman.

  

Oman delegation that was led by Hon. Membe.

Hon. Membe walks H.E. Abdullah after opening one of the clusters.

All photos by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago 

Hon. Membe welcomes Oman's Foreign Minister to Tanzania

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, in talks with his counterpart H.E. Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman.  H.E. Abdullah had just arrived at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, ready to attend the two-days Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation between Tanzania and Oman.

The meeting is scheduled to start on February 24 to 25, 2013 at Hyatt Regency (Kilimanjaro) Hotel in Dar es Salaam. 

Hon. Membe (right), H.E. Abdulla (center) and H.E. Yahya bin Moussa al Bakri, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman in the United Republic of Tanzania. 

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), exchanges views with Ambassador Simba Yahya (2nd right -standing), Director of the Department of Middle East in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and H.E. Ali Ahmed Saleh (kneeling down), Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania in Oman.  

H.E. Yahya bin Moussa al Bakri, Ambassador of Sultanate of Oman in the United Republic of Tanzania in discussion with H.E. Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman.

Delegation from Oman, upon their arrival today at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.

  

Hon. Membe welcomes again H.E. Abdullah to the United Republic of Tanzania, during their arrival at the Hyatt Regency (Kilimanjaro) Hotel in Dar es Salaam. 

  

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation in a discussion with Ambassador Simba Yahya (2nd left), Director of the Department of Middle East in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Others are H.E. Ali Ahmed Saleh (right), Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania in Oman and Mr. Togolani Mavura (2nd right), Private Assistant to Honorable Minister Membe. 

All photos by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago 

Oman's Foreign Minister in Dar for a two-day JPC

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, welcomes H.E.  Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman.  

H.E. Abdullah is in the country attending a two-day Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation between Tanzania and Oman (JPC) which is set to kick start on February 24 to 25, 2013 at Hyatt Regency (Kilimanjaro) Hotel in Dar es Salaam. 

Hon. Membe hugs and welcomes H.E. Abdullah to Tanzania upon his arrival today at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.   

H.E. Ali Ahmed Saleh, Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania to Oman welcomes H.E. Abdullah.

Ambassador Simba Yahya, Director of the Department of Middle East in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tanzania welcomes H.E. Abdullah.

All photos by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago 

A courtesy visit of High Commissioner of Pakistan

High Commissioner Tajammul Atlaf (left) of the High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan earlier today paid a courtesy visit to Ambassador Mbelwa Kairuki (right), Director of the Department of Asia and Australasia in the Ministry.  Among other things, the two Ambassadors discussed areas of continued cooperation in the fields such as 
industry, agriculture, health and education.  Also in the photo is Mr. Charles Faini, Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry.

High Commissioner Tajammul Atlaf making a point during his discussion with Ambassador Kairuki. 

Ambassador Kairuki (right) reviewing documents while listening to Ambassador Atlaf.  Also in the photo is Mr. Charles Faini, Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry.

Ambassador Kairuki (right) listening to Ambassador Atlaf  of the Islamic Republic of Oman during their discussion earlier today in the Ministry.  Also in the photo is Mr. Charles Faini (2nd right), Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry.

All photos by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago