We’ll do business together, Comoros president promises

 
2006-03-31 10:32:19
By Patrick Kisembo

	President of the Union of Comoros Azali Assoumani (second left) is accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr Asha-Rose Migiro after opening his country’s consulate along Kenyatta Road in Dar es Salaam yesterday. (Photo: Selemani Mpochi)

President Azali Assoumani of the Comoros Islands has promised Tanzanians corporation in areas of common interest to the two countries.

President Assoumani made the remarks yesterday when he toured economic and social services installation, including the Aga Khan Hospital, Nida Textile Mills and the honorary consulate of the Comoros Islands, which he inaugurated.

At the Aga Khan Hospital, the president expressed appreciation for the services Comoros nationals get at local hospitals, The Aga Khan Hospital being one of them.

’We must find a way through which The Aga Khan Hospital services can be available in the Comoros,’ he said.

In response, the hospital’s chief executive, Stewart Gordol, said the matter had already been discussed with the Comoros’ Minister for Foreign Affairs.

’We have shared views and the hospital will soon start attending to patients in the Comoros islands and only serious cases would be referred to Dar es Salaam for specialised treatment,’Gordol said.

The Aga Khan Hospital alone receives between 10 to 16 patients per month from the Comoros, according to Amin Kurji, the resident representative of Aga Khan Development Network in Tanzania.

Speaking during a Press conference, Tanzania\’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Dr Asha Rose Migiro, said the main purpose of the visit was to review areas of co-operation and strengthening them.

’One of the areas is health. Many Comoros citizens come here for treatment. Not only at the Aga Khan Hospital, but many others. This is just one of the examples of the many hospital facilities we have,’ Dr Migiro said.

After touring Nida Textile Mills, President Assoumani was briefed by Elvis Musiba, the President of Tanzania Chamber of Commerce Industries and Agriculture (TCCIA) on the role the private sector plays in Tanzania.

’Mr President, we have just shown you one of the many areas the private sector is playing in the country. We would not like you to go to Dubai to buy goods that are available cheaply in Tanzania,’ Musiba told President Assoumani jokingly.

He said the private sector was happy to hear that a joint permanent commission would be set up to monitor political, economic and cultural developments in the two countries.

President Assoumani, in response, promised to buy more goods from Tanzania.

Dr Migiro said Tanzania would like to sell more livestock to the Comoros.

’This will become clear when the joint permanent commission is set up. We have a big beef market in the Comoros,’ she said.

The visiting President’s meeting with the business community at Karimjee Hall was cancelled at the eleventh minute. No reasons were given.

• SOURCE: Guardian