During an interview with Sputnik, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Tanzania’s envoy to the United Nations; Hussein Kattanga, revealed that Tanzania is willing to engage with Moscow at all times and ready to welcome Sergey Lavrov should he decide to visit.
“Definitely yes. Tanzania is always open,” the Tanzanian envoy stated when asked about meeting with Russian officials this year to discuss food security, energy, or investments.
However, the envoy gave no indication as to the likelihood of meeting with Lavrov on the margins of the present UN General Assembly, noting that he “cannot speculate” on the subject for the time being.
Russia and Tanzania interactions in recent months
Russia and Tanzania have enjoyed a budding relationship in recent years, so much so that both countries once touted the possibility of trading with each other in their own local currencies.
In June, Andrey Avetisyan, Tanzania’s ambassador to Russia, noted that the two nations are actively striving to boost their bilateral trade using their respective national currencies.
The central banks from both countries had already started ironing out the angles.
Fredrick Ibrahim Kibuta, Tanzania’s ambassador to Russia, revealed that a deal was already in place to that effect. The envoy also stated that the deal would increase Russian tourism in the East African country.
Tanzania’s Minister for Minerals, Doto Biteko, made public the ‘Cooperation in Science and Technology’ panel discussion on ‘Nuclear Technologies for the Development of the African Region.’
The disclosure astonished many, considering that the East African country had been quietly laying the groundwork for its nuclear ambitions.