President of Rwanda arrives in Tanzania on state visit

By Alice Kagina, DAR ES SALAAM Tanzania

President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame on Thursday, April 27, arrived in Tanzania for a two-day visit as both countries seek to strengthen bilateral relations.

Upon arrival, he was received by Stergomena Lawrence Tax, the Tanzanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation.

Kagame is expected to hold a tête-à-tête discussion with President Samia Hassan before joining members of both delegations for a bilateral meeting. From there, the two Heads of State will address members of the press.

According to a statement from the Office of the President, Kagame will also attend a dinner hosted in his honour.

Kagame’s visit to Tanzania comes at a time when both countries share cordial relations in various sectors of cooperation. The ties are strongest in trade and investment with potential in multiple other avenues.

For instance, Tanzania’s exports to Rwanda increased to $277.8 million in 2021, up from $60.1 million, while Rwanda’s exports to Tanzania $2.2 million up from $1.3 million in the same period.

In August 2021, President Suluhu visited Rwanda, in a move that aimed at strengthening ties between the two neighboring countries where she witnessed the signing of different agreements in various sectors for the social and economic growth of both nations.

Rwanda uses the port of Dar es Salaam for much of her inbound and outbound cargo, (over 80 per cent) through what is commonly known as the Central Corridor.

Ahead of the visit, Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT and Innovation in July led a delegation of public and private sector to Tanzania to engage in cooperation in the sector.

Some of Rwanda’s submarine sea cables IT infrastructure are through the port of Dar es Salaam.

The Rwanda Defence Force Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Jean-Bosco Kazura and Inspector General of Police CGP Dan Munyuza in the same year visited Tanzania where they held talks with their counterparts.

The meeting ended with a commitment by both countries to cooperate closely on border control and crime prevention, information and intelligence sharing on terrorism and other transnational crimes.

In 2018, the two countries agreed on joint construction of a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Isaka (northwestern Tanzania) to Kigali, a move which will facilitate movement of goods between the two countries.

Studies conducted by the East African Community (EAC) had shown that the Tanzanian railway route would cost Rwanda between $800 and $900 million.

Popular Tanzanian businesses operating in Rwanda include Azam Group, Bakhresa, Matelas Dodoma, among others, while Rwandan companies like Sulfo Rwanda, and Pharmalab, have set foot in Tanzania.