PRIME MINISTER, Mr. Kassim Majaliwa has met with the Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Robert Beugre Mambe and discussed with him diplomatic, economic, technological, agricultural and sports issues at a meeting held at the office of his host, Boulevard Angoulvant Plateau, in Abidjan.
Giving a clarification immediately after the meeting on May 13, 2025, Prime Minister Majaliwa said the aim of their meeting was to strengthen diplomatic relations but also to encourage the country’s need to collaborate with Tanzania on various issues including research and modern technologies in agriculture.
“Côte d’Ivoire has a population of over 31 million and is a leader in cocoa, cashew and palm oil cultivation. They grow more cashew than Tanzania and we grow cashew in the coastal regions and cocoa in Mbeya and other areas. We can learn from them and we see this as an opportunity for us to increase production of these crops,” he said.
Cocoa is a major cash crop and brings in a lot of foreign exchange.
We have agreed that our agriculture ministers should meet and look at areas for signing agreements, including market research and research issues,” said Prime Minister Majaliwa, who was in Abidjan to represent President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan at the two-day African Chief Executives Forum that ended yesterday.
He said their talks had opened doors to strengthen trade and he had agreed with his host that the countries’ ministers of industry and trade, as well as foreign affairs, should meet and set the first agenda for the Tanzania-Côte d’Ivoire Business Forum.
“We have agreed that the forum should be held early so that our businessmen can meet and exchange strategies and here we want the private sector to lead the way in that area,” he said.
“Through the TPSF, institutions should sit together and identify areas for capacity building, whether it is new technology or exchange of investors in cocoa and cashew crops,” he said.
“We have assured them that we have reduced the time to obtain licenses in the country, we have increased investment zones (EPZA) and we expect to start flights soon direct to Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria. We expect this step to increase markets but also promote tourism,” he said.
The Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Robert Beugre Mambe who is also the Minister of Sports and Social Welfare, thanked the Prime Minister for participating in the meeting on behalf of President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan who said he recognizes that he has other national responsibilities.
He said he congratulates His Excellency the President of Tanzania for the great step he has taken in leading Tanzania while commending Tanzania for organizing a major energy conference in Africa held on January 27 -28, this year.
He said he agrees with the issues they discussed on the issues of cocoa, cashew and palm oil farming and that they are ready to collaborate with Tanzania on various activities as they are planned.
“We expect to collaborate with you on issues of modern agricultural equipment. Agricultural technology here is very advanced and we are waiting for the start of the business forum so that our people can exchange experiences,” he said.
