"Tanzania and Malawi should remove non-tariff barriers"

Samia made the remarks at Mbeya at the official opening of the Tanzania-Malawi Trade and Investment Forum on "Strengthening Bilateral Trade and Investment Relations". . She said: "Our governments have understood the importance of strengthening our cross – border cooperation, which is also part of the SADC industrialization strategy and the regional integration initiative.

"If regional integration involves, among other things, the elimination of non-tariff, then be neighbors and members of SADC, such an initiative as cross-border cooperation, will greatly benefit to the & 9 [[economybyincreasingthewelfareofourneighboringcitizensthroughjobcreationandparticipationinvariouseconomicactivities"

Samia said that by strengthening the links between citizens, businesses and institutions Good neighborliness can lead to equitable and balanced development of cross-border areas in both countries.

To the Vice President, trade between Tanzania and Malawi has had a steady performance over the past six years.

It also revealed that the total volume of Tanzanian exports to Malawi for six years from 2011 to 2016 amounted to 700,525 tonnes for a total value of US $ 305.3 million while the volume of Malawi's imports to Tanzania amounted to 328,335 tonnes. total value of $ 244.5 million.

Tanzania's main exports to Malawi are tobacco, limestone, cement and clinker, khanga and vitenge, mosquito nets and steel, while Malawi's main imports are as follows. : maize, shelled peanuts and other parts of plants. cosmetics, tropical woods, glass, fruits and vegetables.

"It is an astonishing reality that Tanzania and Malawi have not yet registered substantial mutual investment from these two countries.It is a appalling situation that requires our attention Immediate given our opportunities of proximity and investment from both sides.I hope that during this forum, investment agreements will arrive. "

The Vice President also described Mbeya where the forum was considered a suitable place not only for its proximity, but also for its unique features.

"Mbeya is linked to vital infrastructure, roads, rail services and air transport, which facilitate trade and enable the region to play the role of gateway to Dar es Salaam and Other notable features of Mbeya are its agroeconomic dynamics, Mbeya has sufficient rainfall and fertile soils, hence its inclusion in the South African agricultural growth corridor. Tanzania (SAGCOT), "she said.