6 historic days for Tanzania

 

 

By The Citizen Reporters  (email the author)

In Summary

• The Smart Partnership International Dialogue starts today and will be followed by President Obama’s tour on July 1 and 2.
• The First Ladies Summit - to be attended by Salma Kikwete, Michelle Obama and former US President George Bush and wife Laura - is scheduled for 2-3 July.

Dar es Salaam. Starting today, it will be a historic six days of unprecedented visits and diplomatic engagements for Tanzania.

Whether by accident or design, Dar es Salaam will not only play host to the most powerful president in the world, Mr Barack Obama, it will also be the venue of two significant meetings:

The Smart Partnership International Dialogue that more than 10 heads of state and government are expected to attend, and the African First Ladies Summit to be hosted by the George W. Bush Institute.

The Smart Partnership International Dialogue starts today and will be followed by President Obama’s tour on July 1 and 2.

The First Ladies Summit--to be attended by Mama Salma Kikwete, US First Lady Michelle Obama and former US President George Bush and his wife Laura plus seven other first ladies--is scheduled for 2 July to 3 July.

The heads of state and government who will attend the Smart Parnership Dialogue meeting include Mr Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Mr Yoweri Museveni (Uganda) Mr Boni Yayi (Benin), Mr Ali Omar Bongo (Gabon) and Mr Ikililou Dhoinine (Comoros).

Others include Mr Ernest Koroma (Sierra Leone), Mr Blaise Compaore (Burkina Faso) King Mswati III (Swaziland) and Mr Mahinda Rajapaska (Sri Lanka).

The Zambian vice-president and prime ministers of Malaysia, Botswana and Algeria will also be present. Some former presidents from various countries are also on the guest list.

According to the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Mahadhi Juma Maalim, this is evidence that Tanzania’s diplomatic ties with other nations are solid enough to attract the attention of the international community.

The First Ladies Summit, officially established in 2010, is a global initiative to ensure a safe and sustainable future for the next generation.

“In fact, because of our strong ties with many countries across the globe, it is now official that we are seen and recognised to an extent that many nations have built trust in us,” said the deputy minister.

According to foreign relations experts, though, the influx of heads of states – especially from powerful nations – may simply mean that, good policies notwithstanding, the abundant natural resources in the country have attracted the attention of the world.