The Foreign Minister, who reached Zanzibar on Wednesday, is going to meet the top leadership there. The special thing is that Indian Navy’s ship ‘Trishul’ is also in Tanzania at this time. Jaishankar participated in the reception organized on it. He has also tweeted many pictures from there. As soon as he reached Tanzania, Jaishankar wrote, ‘I have reached Zanzibar. Thanks to Tourism Minister Simai Sayeed for the warm welcome. Looking forward to my program in Tanzania, which will further deepen our historic partnership.
Actually, Jaishankar is in Tanzania on a special mission. He will review the water supply project being built with the loan from the Government of India. EAM will also visit Dar-es-Salaam, where he will co-chair the 10th India-Tanzania Joint Commission Meeting with his counterpart. He is also going to meet several cabinet ministers.
He will meet members of the India Parliamentary Friendship Group and launch the India-Tanzania Business Meeting. The External Affairs Minister will also unveil a statue of Swami Vivekananda in Dar-es-Salaam. India and Tanzania have traditionally enjoyed close and friendly relations.
Why Tanzania is special for India
- It has strategic importance due to its proximity to the Arabian Sea. The presence of an Indian Navy ship there is significant in itself.
- The way India is expanding its presence at Iran’s Chabahar Port, Oman’s Duqm Port, the proximity with East African countries becomes important. It also becomes necessary in view of China’s efforts to increase its influence in the Indian Ocean.
- Tanzania is one of the fastest growing African countries of this decade. India has invested a lot there.
- Both countries have common interests in maritime security. Robbery, drug smuggling, terrorist activities are carried out through the sea.
- India has assured all possible cooperation in the development of Tanzania’s natural gas sector. In fact, only a decade ago, the world came to know that there is a huge reserve of natural gas in the sea adjacent to Tanzania. This is important for India because India has a special role in setting up Tanzania’s oil company. Tanzania also wants India to cooperate in exploitation of its gas reserves.
- There is a sizeable number of Indians in Tanzania. They are mostly businessmen, who contribute a lot to the economy there. Gujarati businessmen in particular have a long history of contact with Tanzania.