India extends $92-mn credit for Tanzania’s water projects

India on Sunday extended full support to Tanzania in meeting the African country's development needs and signed five agreements, including one for providing a line of credit of $92 million in the water resources sector.

Making the announcements in the Tanzanian capital of Dar-es-Salaam, visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India would remain a trusted partner in meeting the resource-rich country's development priorities.

Modi said he along with President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli also "agreed to deepen our overall defence and security partnership, especially in the maritime domain".

"Our in-depth discussions on regional and global issues reflected our considerable convergence on issues of common interest and concern," he said at a joint press interaction after his bilateral meeting with President Magufuli.

The two leaders agreed to work closely, bilaterally, regionally and globally to combat the twin threats of terrorism and climate change.

In a joint statement, the two leaders expressed their strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stated that there can be no justification for terrorism whatsoever. They expressed satisfaction on the holding of bilateral counter-terrorism consultations in early-2016.

"India's cooperation with Tanzania will always be as per your needs and priorities," Modi said.

The Eastern coast of Africa, and Tanzania in particular have enjoyed strong links with the India. We are old maritime neighbours, Modi said, adding, ''India is already a substantial economic partner of Tanzania. The whole range of our economic ties are healthy and on upswing.''

India's two-way trade with Tanzania stands at around $3 billion and Indian investments in Tanzania also stand around $3 billion.

Modi said, ''the completion of 100-million dollar water supply augmentation project for Dar-es-Salaam is a good achievement.

''We have just now also signed an agreement on water supply project in Zanzibar for a line of credit of $92 million. We are also working on a number of other water projects for 17 cities. And for this India is willing to consider an additional $500 million line of concessional credit. Public Health is another important area of our engagement.

''We are ready to meet the healthcare priorities of the Tanzanian government, including of supply of medicines and equipment. I am told that an Indian radio-therapy machine is being installed at Bugando medical centre to treat cancer patients.

The two countries have also decided:

• To deepen their partnership in agriculture and food security, including through enhanced export of pulses from Tanzania to India;
• To work together in development and use of natural gas;
• Partner in building of industrial economy, capacities and institutions in Tanzania; and
• Four, deepen our trade and investment partnership by encouraging greater industry to industry ties.

Other areas of bilateral cooperation include, education, vocational training and skill development.

India is also offering assistance for the IT Resource Centre at the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science & Technology, Arusha, which is close to completion.

''Being neighbours across Indian Ocean, President and I agreed to deepen our overall defence and security partnership, especially in the maritime domain.

''Our in-depth discussions on regional and global issues reflected our considerable convergence on issues of common interest and concern.

''We agreed to work closely, bilaterally, regionally and globally, to combat the twin threats of terrorism and climate change,'' Modi said.

The two leaders recognised the growth in vibrancy of people-level relations between the two countries that were encouraged by the introduction of e-tourist visas to Tanzania last year and the subsequent removal of visa fees for Tanzanian business travellers to India since December 2015.

The two leaders then jointly announced the holding of a festival of Indian culture in Tanzania within a year.

President Magufuli reiterated Tanzania's continued support for India as a permanent member of an expanded UN Security Council.

Modi also extended an invitation to President Magufuli to visit India at the earliest possible opportunity.