Egypt, Tanzania sign MoUs on transport, electricity, renewable energy
Leaders discuss agriculture, Dar es Salaam port expansion, regional connectivity
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between Egypt and Tanzania, with their talks focusing on expanding economic co-operation, boosting trade and investment, and advancing joint development projects.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Dar es Salaam following talks with President Hassan on Saturday, President Sisi said Egypt and Tanzania were bound by deep-rooted historical ties and strong bonds between their peoples, stressing that shared political will and determination had driven unprecedented progress in bilateral relations in recent years.
He said his talks with President Hassan reflected the two countries’ shared commitment to further promoting their strategic partnership and making optimal use of their respective capabilities to serve the interests of both peoples.
President Sisi stressed the need to inject fresh momentum into economic co-operation by increasing bilateral trade, encouraging mutual investment and expanding private-sector participation in promising fields, including construction, road infrastructure, maritime transport and ports, logistics, electricity and energy, agriculture and land reclamation, irrigation, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.
He also underscored Egypt’s keenness to build on the success of Egyptian companies in implementing the landmark Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, saying the expertise gained through the project could help open the door to further development opportunities for Egyptian companies in Tanzania.
The Egyptian president said he had directed efforts to intensify the transfer of Egyptian expertise, provide technical support and expand training and capacity-building programmes for Tanzanian professionals across a range of sectors, with the aim of unlocking the full potential of bilateral relations.
The two leaders also discussed the possibility of launching an agricultural land reclamation project in Tanzania to support food security in both countries and meet domestic demand for key strategic crops. President Sisi said the project could be expanded in successive phases, eventually enabling the two countries to move towards exports.
On infrastructure and regional connectivity, President Sisi reiterated Egypt’s readiness to contribute to the expansion and development of Dar es Salaam Port. He stressed the importance of integrating the port’s development into a broader regional logistics network connecting Tanzania with neighbouring countries.
The two sides also discussed the proposed establishment of a maritime shipping route linking the ports of Safaga and Dar es Salaam, alongside the development of a multimodal transport corridor connecting Cairo and Dar es Salaam through a series of joint development projects.
Regional and African issues
President Sisi praised Tanzania’s positive and balanced positions on a number of regional issues of common concern, expressing his hope that the country would continue to play a constructive role in promoting dialogue, understanding and co-operation among the Nile Basin countries.
The two presidents also exchanged views on major regional and international developments, including the situations in the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, as well as ways of strengthening collective African action.
They agreed to maintain close co-ordination and consultation on issues of mutual interest.
President Sisi expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome extended to him by President Hassan and reaffirmed Egypt’s support for Tanzania and its people, wishing the country continued stability, progress and prosperity.
Following the expanded talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of two memoranda of understanding covering transport, electricity and renewable energy, marking a further step towards deepening practical co-operation between the two countries.
Earlier, President Hassan received President Sisi at the Presidential Palace in Dar es Salaam, where an official welcoming ceremony was held, featuring the national anthems of Egypt and Tanzania, a 21-gun salute and an inspection of the guard of honour.
The two presidents then held a private meeting, followed by expanded talks attended by delegations from both countries.
President Sisi congratulated President Hassan on her re-election for a second term, expressing Egypt’s keenness to continue boosting its distinguished relations with Tanzania across all fields.
For her part, President Hassan welcomed President Sisi’s visit and praised Egypt’s active role at both the African and international levels. She described bilateral co-operation as a model of the integration sought among African countries and expressed Tanzania’s aspiration to further deepen ties with Egypt.
President Hassan also praised the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, describing it as a positive example of co-operation in support of development and prosperity. She outlined Tanzania’s efforts to advance development under its Tanzania 2050 vision and expressed appreciation for Egypt’s continued support for those efforts.
The visit concluded with an official luncheon hosted by President Hassan in honour of President Sisi. In remarks during the luncheon, the two leaders underscored their pride in the strong cultural ties between Egypt and Tanzania and reaffirmed their determination to implement the agreements reached during their talks, with the aim of further strengthening bilateral relations and elevating ties to the level of a strategic partnership.
