DAR ES SALAAM, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Augustine Mahiga, said on Monday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to support the east African nation in its industrialization drive.
"The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Tanzania next year with a group of high profile investors in various sectors as the Middle East country seeks stronger ties with Tanzania," Mahiga told a news conference in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.
Tanzanian President John Magufuli promised to turn the country to a middle income industrial economy by 2025 when he took power in November 2015.
Speaking on return from his recent official visit to Israel where he opened Tanzania's new embassy, Mahiga described Israel as a role model country to Tanzania saying that Netanyahu's visit would strengthen more Tanzania-Israel cooperation in various sectors.
According to him, Netanyahu promised that his country was ready to support Tanzania in the sectors of agriculture, industries, health, information and communication technology (ICT), defense and security, water and tourism.
"Israel is very unique in various sectors. So cooperating with this country would bring positive impacts in Tanzanian economy," said the minister.
Tanzania broke its relations with Israel following the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and ties were restored in 1995, but Israel conducted its relations with Tanzania through Kenya.
In March, this year President Magufuli called for immediate signing of cooperation agreements between Tanzania and Israel in various sectors including security, training and economic issues for implementation to take place instantly.
Magufuli made the call after holding talks with Israel's Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, who visited him at State House.
"Tanzania and Israel are longtime allies. I want to see our friendship growing; I welcome Investors from Israel to invest here especially in agriculture, mining and gas sectors," said a statement by the Directorate of Presidential Communication at State House.
