Trade relationship between Tanzania and Algeria is historical

The Algerian ambassador to Tanzania His Excellency Djelloul Tabet shaking hands with Anne Makinda, the Speaker of the National Assembly in Dar es Salaam recently

By Nasser Kigwangallah

THE bilateral ties between Tanzania and Algeria is historical based on personal friendship of founder presidents Ahmed Ben Bella of the Republic of Algeria and Mwalimu Julius Nyerere of the United Republic of Tanzania.

This was revealed by his Excellency Djelloul Tabet, honourable ambassador of the Embassy of Algeria to Tanzania in an exclusive interview in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

He said the cultural, political and trade relationship between the two countries started a long time ago and has continued to expand from time to time.

According to him, Algeria sided with Tanzania during the hard times when it went to war with Uganda in the 1978/79 Kagera war imposed by Iddi Amin.

“The two countries have set up a joint committee to review the existing cooperation in trade, finance and cultural undertakings so as to expand it further for the benefit of the peoples of the two respective countries,” he said.

He added that delegates from the two countries had a joint meeting in Dar es Salaam  in the year 2010 and drew a road map of implementation on the trade ties and how matters should be implemented.

“Algeria provides sixty scholarships to Tanzanian students each year who go to Algeria to study in different fields such as engineering, medicines and vocational trainings,” he said.

He said there are more than 1000 Tanzanians have studied in Algeria and are now offering their humble services to their brothers and sisters in Tanzania.

The ambassador said these students are the ambassadors of the relationship between Algeria and Tanzania because they know much about Algeria and its people.

“They have formed an organization called Tanzania and Algeria Friendship Association (TAFA) which unites them with their Algerian counterparts in Dar es Salaam,” he said.

He said Algeria is also committed to the development of Africa and supports all resolutions at the international fora that aimed at highlighting the plight of Africa and its people.

The ambasaador said: “As a non aligned movement (NAM) member, Algeria has been at the forefront to ensure that all interests of Africa are taken into consideration to ensure peace, stability and progress of the continent is preserved.”

He appreciated the stand Tanzania takes on its foreign relations with the rest of the world.

However, ambassador Tabet said that he was not satisfied with the level of trade between the two countries and wants it to be expanded further.

“In order to tackle all the issues of trade imbalances and the exchange of goods, Algerian businessmen visited Tanzania recently to explore ways of expanding; particularly in agriculture, that would enable production of more food for the consumption of the local people,” he said.