TANZANIA, INDIA SIGN 5 MULTI-MILLION UPSCALE PACTS

Visiting Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, delivers his speech in Dar es Salaam yesterday. 

President John Magufuli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have signed five grand agreements, including one for providing a Line of Credit of 92 million US dollars (over 184 billion/-) in the water resources sector.

Mr Modi arrived in Dar es Salaam on Saturday night from South Africa on the third leg of his four-nation tour of Africa. He left for Kenya later yesterday. The agreements were signed following delegation level talks between President John Magufuli and his Indian counterpart.

According to the water agreement, India will extend a line of credit of 92 million US dollars for the rehabilitation and improvement of the water supply system in Zanzibar. The two sides also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on water resource management and development.

Another MoU that was signed at State House yesterday seeks to establish a vocational training programme between India and Zanzibar.

Under the MoU, India and Zanzibar will cooperate in vocational training and creativity whereas India will put up a special vocational centre in Pemba. The two leaders also signed a bilateral agreement on exemption of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports.

This means all government officials with diplomatic and service passports will not be required to secure a visa when travelling to either country.

The two countries also signed a joint action plan between the Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO) and India’s National Small Industries Corporation (NCIC). It would oversee cooperation in the field of micro, small and medium enterprises.

The agreement is part of the implementation of the state visit by the then Indian Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh, in 2011. It will also put up incubators that will help Tanzanians to reap benefits of technology from India as well as preparing the country to become an industrial economy as part of the implementation of the Second Five - Year Development Plan.

Another agreement is that of exchange of hydrographic survey maps.

The maps are a result of a survey that was conducted by the Indian navy on behalf of the Indian government and Tanzanian authorities.

Describing India as a trusted partner in meeting Tanzania’s development priorities, Mr Modi said he and President Magufuli have agreed to deepen the overall defence and security partnership, especially in the maritime domain.

“Our in-depth discussions on regional and global issues reflected our considerable convergence on issues of common interest and concern,” Mr Modi added. On arrival at the State House yesterday, Mr Modi decided to join his host in honing their skills at traditional drum beating.

Earlier on, he received a 21-gun salute from members of the uniformed forces before inspecting a guard of honour mounted by members of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF).

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