CANADIAN Prime Minister Stephen Harper is scheduled to arrive in Dar es Salaam today for one-day tour aimed at strengthening bilateral ties in various fields.
Mr Harper is coming to Tanzania straight from Kampala, where he was attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that ended yesterday.
“(Mr) Harper’s visit attests the importance Canada attaches to Tanzania, not only in the context of close historic relationship but also to the rapidly changing nature of this relationship for the future,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced in a statement.
Mr Harper would be met by his host President Jakaya Kikwete. He is scheduled to visit a primary school, talk with his host at Ikulu and later meet the Canadian business community.
Tanzania has of late witnessed increased number of Canadian investors in the country, especially in the mining sector.
The Canadian miners include Barrick Gold which operates Bulyanhulu, Tulawaka and North Mara. The miner is also having a stake in the proposed Kabanga nickel Mine.
Artumas Group and Manitoba Hydro International are building and operating a gas plant at Mnazi Bay in Mtwara.
In 2002, Canada cancelled a debt worth 83.8 million Canadian dollars as part of the country’s contribution to poverty reduction programme.
Meanwhile, the British Minister of State for the Department for International Development (DIFD), Mr Douglass Alexander, starts a two-day visit of the country today.
The British High Commission said in a statement yesterday that during the visit Mr Alexander would meet Finance Minister Zakia Meghji and Present Kikwete.
“Their discussions will focus on Tanzania’s development progress, particularly on economic growth, reforms in the public sector, tackling graft and demonstrating development results,” read the statement.
Mr Alexander will also visit the Dar es Salaam Port.
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