New Delhi, December 18, 2019

Honourable Christopher Mwita Gachuma,Chairman,Tanzania Cotton Association (TCA),

Mr. Boaz Ogola Abeiro,Executive Secretary (TCA),

Dr. Joseph Ocheing Witts,Chie Commercial Officer,CRDB Bank Limited,

Distinguished Guests from the Indian

Business fraternity,

Dear Compatriots in the Delegation,

Friends,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Namaskkar! Jambo! A Very Good Morning to all!

 

Let me begin by extending the warmest welcome to all of you. It's indeed an honour and privilege that we are able to host you at our Chancery on a business setting. My Colleagues at the Mission and I are greatly happy to see the high-level delegation from Tanzania as well as from the Indian business fraternity.

 

We are extremely enthused that you were all able to make it to this meeting despite the short notice given to you. This is a clear testimony of the value you attach to this interaction that will further enhance trade and business between Tanzania and India.

 

Dear friends,

 

You may wish to note that Tanzania and India enjoy quite a vibrant business relationship for over fifty years/India is among the top five trading partners of Tanzania comprising 16% of Tanzania foreign trade.

 

Until 2017 Indian investors had invested a total of 2.2 billion USD in various sectors of Tanzanian economy. Although for 2018 there has been a slight downward trend, it is still expected that it will not go below 2.1 billion USD and efforts towards enhancing the upwards trend include, among others, a mission that we have today.

 

On this note, permit me to thank the leadership at the TCA for having conceived the idea and for having taken it to the implementation level.

 

For Tanzania, cotton holds a special place and is among the strategic crops for the country. The diversified use of cotton calls for our dedicated efforts to make it contribute to the economy of our country and for a stable market.

 

It is heartwarming that our Indian business friends have turned up for this event in an impressive numbers, such that we envision a very productive exchange for mutual benefits of all of us. I should like to register my special appreciation to the confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) for mobilizing such a record number. I cannot thank you enough.

 

In the same vein, I wish to sincerely thank the Federation of Indian Export Organization (FIEO) and the Millennial India International Chamber of Commerce,

Industry and Agriculture (MIICCIA) for sending here quite a good number of their members. Thank you very much.

 

Perhaps, this is reminiscent of the African proverb that "there is no better mirror than the best friend. And you have proven to be truly friends.

 

On this premise, I should not end my remarks without recognizing a few friends whom I implored that they should not fail me by not coming to this event.

 

May I recognize the presence of my host at the recent reverse buyer/seller event in Kolkata, Mr. Sanjay Jain ji; Mr. Singhania ji.

 

May I also honour the presence of the Chairman of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, International Affairs Committee for Africa Mr. Vivek Agarwala ji and the Secretary, International Affairs Mr. Niraj ji and all friends present.

 

Lastly, it remains for me to promise that you will be given all the details that you may want to be able to make up your trade and business Mission in Tanzania in this sector and also in many other areas of your choice. I say so because that is what this high level delegation has come for.

 

And that is why I have to cede the platform for the next speaker.

 

                                                I thank you very much.