President Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi emphasized the importance of enhancing trade relations between Zanzibar and the Comoros through renewed economic diplomacy.
He made this declaration during a meeting at the Zanzibar State House with Ibrahim Mzee, the governor of Moroni City, along with a delegation focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation.
During the meeting, President Mwinyi encouraged the delegation to facilitate visits for Comorian entrepreneurs to Zanzibar to explore potential trade and investment opportunities, similar to arrangements made in previous years.
He highlighted the necessity of revitalizing maritime transport services to enhance both trade and social interactions.
Additionally, he proposed a special program to allow Zanzibar educators to travel to the Comoros to teach Swahili, while also encouraging Comorians to come to Zanzibar to learn the language, noting the linguistic similarities between the two nations. Some attendees suggested that Comorian teachers could assist Zanzibar students in learning French.
In response, Governor Mzee commended Zanzibar’s rapid development and transformation, expressing that the Comoros could gain valuable insights from Zanzibar’s achievements.
He also extended an invitation for President Mwinyi to visit the Ngazija Islands to share experiences regarding development initiatives, underlining the necessity for closer collaboration between the chambers of commerce, farmers, and industrialists in both Zanzibar and the Comoros.
Zanzibar City Mayor Mahmoud Muhammed Mussa, who was part of the delegation, mentioned that their visit would span three days, during which discussions on cooperation between the local authorities of Zanzibar and Moroni City would take place.
The delegation plans to tour the historic Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and engage in discussions with Idrissa Kitwana Mustafa, the Urban West regional commissioner, about strategies to enhance cooperative efforts.
