Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic
Relations between Finland and Tanzania are moving onto a new level, said President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö and President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete on Tuesday 2 June. “I am delighted that several companies are on the programme for your visit. This reflects the development of our relations from a traditional development partnership towards broader economic and commercial cooperation,” said President Niinistö to his Tanzanian peer, who is on a working visit.
“Trade and investment offer a wealth of opportunities. Finnish companies are hugely interested in the African markets,” said President Niinistö.
President Kikwete stated that Finnish companies were welcome to invest in Tanzania. “Finland has strong competencies in the paper, mining and forest sectors,” he said.
Tanzania is Finland’s longest-running and largest development cooperation partner. According to President Kikwete, aid has made an enormous difference to the living conditions of Tanzanians. Tanzania has the vision of joining the ranks of middle-income countries by 2025.
President Niinistö stated that continuous effort was required to foster democracy and human rights and combat corruption.
In addition to bilateral relations, the presidents discussed regional issues, particularly the situation in Burundi.
President Kikwete also reminisced about his schoolteachers, many of whom were from Finland. “I too have had a Finnish education,” commented President Kikwete in the press conference.
Pictures
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |