The visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Tanzania coincides with the presence of the Indian Naval Ship Trishul in Zanzibar, showcasing India’s friendly relations with its maritime neighbors and its aspiration to be a representative of the Global South.
On Wednesday, Jaishankar arrived in Zanzibar, known for its spice heritage, shortly after the arrival of INS Trishul, an Indian Navy frigate, at the port. Last week, the warship visited Seychelles to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance maritime security cooperation with regional navies.
Jaishankar tweeted about attending a reception on board INS Trishul with the President of Zanzibar, Hussein Ali Mwinyi, where they welcomed various dignitaries and emphasized India’s commitment to the SAGAR (Safety and Growth for All in the Region) initiative.
During his visit, Jaishankar, along with Mwinyi, witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishing the first IIT campus outside India. The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted that this campus symbolizes the enduring friendship between India and Tanzania, and India’s focus on fostering people-to-people connections across Africa and the Global South.
India and Tanzania have already agreed to collaborate on ocean resources and have outlined a five-year plan for defense cooperation, including training, capacity building, maritime cooperation, infrastructure development, and defense equipment and technology collaboration.
Ambassador Samwel Shelukindo, the Permanent Secretary at the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has urged India to support his country’s efforts in promoting the blue economy, a key priority of President Samia Solution Hassan’s government.
Tanzania, located on the east coast of Africa, serves as an important transportation gateway to eastern, southern, and central Africa, with its three deepwater ports facilitating trade with six landlocked neighboring countries.
The Tanzanian government expressed gratitude to India for providing assistance in various sectors, including significant loans for water development projects benefiting millions of people. Additionally, both countries are exploring cooperation in agriculture, IT, water, sports, culture, trade, and investment.
During the remaining days of his visit, Jaishankar will travel to Dar-es-Salaam, where he will co-chair the 10th India-Tanzania Joint Commission Meeting and engage with top leaders and ministers of Tanzania.
