Your Excellency, Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu,
Your Excellency, Pastor Miche Odo Bille,
Your Excellency Ambassador Lamamra,
Your Excellencies Fellow Ministers and Heads of Delegations,

Good Afternoon,

Your Excellencies,
I wish to express my sincere appreciation for the very warm hospitality that you have accorded to my delegation, a hospitality that equals the greatness of the city of Istanbul. Let me also commend the manner in which your Excellency has so ably conducted the deliberations of this important conference that brings Africa to Turkey, for the first Ministerial review conference. The presence of so many members from both sides of the partnership speaks volume on our shared commitment and determination.

Your Excellencies,
Tanzania is proud to be associated with the success of the First Africa-Turkey Partnership Summit in August, 2008, which I happened to Co-Chair in our then capacity as Chairman of the African Union. I am delighted to note the tremendous steps that have been taken by both sides to build stronger partnership and cooperation that is meaningful to our government and our peoples. For these and many other reasons, the Joint Implementation Plan of Africa – Turkey Partnership remains to be our most important working roadmap through which we must together walk at bilateral and multilateral levels.

Your Excellencies,
At multilateral level, Turkey has increased her diplomatic representation in many African countries and has enhanced economic development cooperation with our countries. Africa is now witnessing increased trade and investment, tourism and exchange of visits between Turkey and African countries. Turkey is addressing the crisis in Somalia in complementing Africa’s efforts to save Somalia from the scourge of civil war, famine and piracy.

At bilateral level, Turkey has opened a diplomatic mission in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and my government will reciprocate by the opening of an Embassy here in Turkey in 2012. Tanzania is also very grateful to see the increased communication cooperation between the two countries now linked by the Turkish Airline that flies to Tanzania daily. The influx of investors, tourists and businessmen is increasing to scale and it is our hope that the volume of trade particularly in agricultural products will increase as Turkey has now decided to have zero tariff on agricultural products.

We welcome the Turkish government’s initiative to build a fully fledged university in Tanzania to complement the scholarships that are given annually by the Turkish government to Tanzanians. Turkey is indeed a true bilateral friend to Tanzania.

Your Excellencies,
Tanzania is looking forward towards more robust cooperation in the future. I wish to take this opportunity to reiterate our support to the Istanbul Declaration and Joint Implementation plan. I also wish to underline the firm commitment and determination of my government in working on achieving these goals.

Long live Africa-Turkey Partnership and Long live Tanzania-Turkey Partnership.

Since Christmas and New Year are just around the corner, let me wish all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I thank you all for your attention.