Ethiopia, Tanzania deepen cooperation

Tanzanian President John Magufuli and his Ethiopian counterpart Sahle-Work Zewde on Monday discussed strengthening trade and investment, tourism and the unconditional repatriation of Ethiopians jailed for breaching Tanzania's immigration laws.

Zewde arrived at the Chato airport in Tanzania's Geita region early on Monday before the two leaders held private talks and later addressed a news conference.

The leaders revealed that Tanzania had expressed its readiness to release unconditionally 1,789 Ethiopians who are considered to be illegal immigrants. The detainees are languishing in different prisons in the country for illegal entry.

They also discussed the possibility of Ethiopia returning a plot of land to Tanzania because of the failure to start development of the property.

In a move to cement the bond between the two East African countries, the two countries discussed the possibility of starting a Kiswahili-language teaching program in Ethiopian universities. They plan to form joint committees to meet in March or April to discuss areas of cooperation and explore new opportunities for cooperation.

Magufuli said the Tanzania Tourist Board and Ethiopian Airlines had an existing contract to advertise the country's tourist attractions, a move that has boosted the number of tourists arriving there.

Teaching programs

"We have also discussed issues of security and defense and introduction of Kiswahili teaching programs in Ethiopia universities. I also seized the opportunity to commend an Ethiopian company that has designed the Julius Nyerere Hydro-Power Project and briefed Ethiopia's president on the development of the project."

Magufuli said since Ethiopia and Tanzania lead the continent in the number of livestock, they discussed how Tanzania could benefit in value addition sales for hides and skins.

"Tanzania is only second to Ethiopia in livestock population in Africa but it has not benefited from its vast number of animals," he said. "We need to learn from Ethiopia by tapping some experience on how to make large herds beneficial to the country. We have agreed to form a joint committee to hold its meeting between March and April this year to review areas of cooperation and unveil new opportunities."

Zewde commended Tanzania for its decision to release the remanded Ethiopians unconditionally, promising the Ethiopian government will do everything possible to airlift them rapidly.

She added the country was ready to receive Kiswahili teachers for the country's higher learning institutions as soon as possible.

"Without repeating what president Magufuli said, I would like to assure you that we are ready for business to take relationships between our countries to the next level. Ethiopia is ready to take the relations between our two countries to another level by boosting trade given our long standing and historic relations," she said.