PM leaves for Tanzania on three-day visit

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today left on three-day visit to Tanzania to take the bilateral ties forward in a comprehensive manner.

Singh's visit is the first by any Indian head of government after September 1997. It is also the first head of government visit from a non-African country after President Jakaya Kikwete assumed the second term following the general elections last year.

For India, Tanzania is an important partner in Africa.

India and Tanzania have played a significant role in the process of decolinisation and they struggled against apartheid. The two countries were active in developing the process of south-south cooperation for the benefit of the developing world.

The bilateral trade was over $1.1 billion in 2010 and the imports covered a number of agricultural commodities.

India has become the second largest investor in Tanzania with total cumulative investments of $1.3 billion till 2009.

Prime Minister Singh and Kikwete will tomorrow hold wide ranging discussions to find ways and means for upgrading and further consolidating the bilateral ties in a comprehensive manner, a senior official said.