Tanzania and Brazil today launched a Joint Permanent Commission of cooperation (JPC) here, with both countries assuring the other of their political commitment to consolidating and further expanding the existing cordial relations.
Two agreements were signed at a colorful ceremony held in this Brazilian capital, the first being the formal establishment of the JPC, and the second was the Agreement on Technical Cooperation.
Major highlights of the two agreements include the promotion of economic, trade, cultural, technical, scientific and technological cooperation.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro and the Minister for External Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Mr Celso Amorim, signed the agreements on behalf of their respective Governments.
Dr Migiro expressed the hope that the areas in the JPC would serve as a catalyst for cooperation in the various social, cultural and economic spheres.
“The enhanced cooperation between Tanzania and Brazil will not only be beneficial to these two countries but also it will build a solid foundation for continued south-south cooperation.
“The framework of cooperation is there what is needed now is to put a firm mechanism in place which is, indeed, the Tanzania-Brazil Joint Permanent Commission of cooperation we have signed today”, Dr Migiro underscored.
She assured her Brazilian counterpart of Tanzania’s political commitment at the highest level, and at the same time forecasted rising economic ties and steady cooperation growth as was the case in the 1980s up till the early 1990.
The Minister also guaranteed her Brazilian counterpart that Tanzania would open her embassy in this country in the near future, and that the processes towards that end were in high gear.
The idea of establishing the JPC was the brainchild of Mr Amorim during his visit to Tanzania in March, last year.
Initially it was agreed by both sides that the launching of the Commission take place in August 2005 but since Tanzania was heading for general elections, it was pushed forward to this year.
To show its commitment towards the landmark initiative, Brazil re-opened its embassy in Tanzania in August 2005 after it was officially closed in the early 1990s due to economic difficulties.