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Tanzania, Germany agree to foster economic ties

Xinhua, February 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and his German counterpart Joachim Gauck on Tuesday agreed to foster economic ties between the two countries.

They said in a joint news conference at State House in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam that the two countries should now open a new chapter of economic ties after 50 years of political and diplomatic relations.

"Currently there are 150 German investment projects in Tanzania valued at 300 million euros. I believe Germany can do more, you can increase the investment up to 30 billion euros, and Tanzania has the capacity to absorb that," said Kikwete at the beginning of a three-day official visit to Tanzania by the German president.

Kikwete said that he was happy that a consortium of international companies led by Ferrostaal Industrial Projects of Germany and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation were planning to build a 1.7 billion U.S. dollars fertilizer factory in Mtwara.

The factory was set to start operations in 2019/20 using natural gas and will produce more than 1 million tons of fertilizers annually.

Gauck said fostering economic ties was a major focus of his visit to the east African country, adding that he was accompanied by Germany's assistant minister for economic affairs and business people to learn more on investment opportunities in Tanzania.

"We have a long history of cooperation, and there are dark chapters too, but now we have to focus on strengthening our economic ties, I hope by the end of the tour new opportunities will be explored," said Gauck.

After meeting with Kikwete, Gauck had a private meeting with representatives of civil society organizations before he visited the 117-year-old German-built Lutheran Church at the Azania Front in Dar es Salaam.

On Wednesday, Gauck will have a private breakfast meeting with leaders of political parties before going to Zanzibar to talk with Zanzibar President Ali Mohammed Shein. Endi