Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Tanzania Mr. Bernand Membe is paying an official visit to Turkey upon the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu.

Within the framework of the visit which is the first Foreign Ministerial visit from Tanzania to Turkey, Foreign Ministers of the two countries exchanged views on bilateral as well as regional issues.

Speaking at the joint press conference following the meeting, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu said that in the context of Turkey’s policy towards Africa, relations with Tanzania are of great importance and recalled that within the framework of its opening up to Africa, Turkey opened the first Embassy in Tanzania. Noting that the trade volume between Turkey and Tanzania was 63 million dollars in 2009, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu indicated that the trade volume increased up to 183 billion in the last 5 years following the opening of the Turkish Embassy.

Stressing that Tanzania has a significant importance with its political stability and democratic system Foreign Minister Davutoğlu said “We discussed holding more consultations at political level, concluding bilateral commercial agreements in the shortest time, cooperation in agriculture, humanitarian activities of the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency in the region and regional problems in the African continent. It was a very fruitful meeting”.

Moreover Foreign Minister Davutoğlu thanked Tanzania for its support to Turkey’s candidature to the UN Security Council for the term 2015-2016.

Pointing out that the bilateral relations are very fruitful in economic and political fields, Tanzanian Foreign Minister Membe said “Within 2014-2015 term, Tanzanian Embassy in Ankara will be opened. This is a historic and important event for us”. Guest Foreign Minister emphasized that Turkey’s existence in Africa is important in terms of not only humanitarian efforts, but also political stand.