Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen to visit Tanzania and Republic of South Africa

Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen will visit Tanzania on 14 – 17 March and the Republic of South Africa on 17 – 18 March. This is Prime Minister Vanhanen’s first visit to Sub-Saharan Africa during his term of office. During the trip, Prime Minister Vanhanen will meet the Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and Prime Minister Mizengo Peter Pinda, and South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies and Minister of Public Enterprises Barbara Hogan.

Meetings organised as part of the visit to Tanzania will focus on bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries, the development of Tanzania, regional issues, integration of East Africa, and climate and environmental issues.

On Tuesday 16 March, the Prime Minister will open the Dar es Salaam Institute for Sustainable Development - one of the new openings for development cooperation in implementing the Finnish Government’s Development Policy Programme. The main task of the institute is to help African nations so that they can reach their sustainable development goals, and to support their participation in trade, environment and climate negotiations.

Discussions to be held during the visit to South Africa will focus on trade relations between the countries. Global climate and environmental issues will also be addressed, along with Africa’s economic issues, development prospects and political situation. A delegation of Finnish businessmen will accompany Prime Minister Vanhanen to South Africa.

 

Further information: Esko Hamilo, State Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office, tel. +358 9 1602 2068 and Mikko Norros, Head of Communications, EU Affairs, Government Communications Unit, tel. +358 9 1602 4008