For the first time in many decades, Russia and Africa will hold a historical summit this year in Sochi, Russia from October 22-24.

This event is especially important given that Soviet Union (USSR) and Russia as its successor were close allies of African nations during the latter's struggle for independence from colonialism.

The new development relations between Russia and Africa are strategically important and mutually beneficial to both sides.

The economic potential for cooper­ation between the two sides is particu­larly important and will help in the economic growth of African countries.

The coming summit will be unique in the history of relations between Russia and African countries, thus, the meeting will provide an opportunity for Africa to find a new and strategic partner.

The summit will also help resolve many economic problems African countries are facing and it will also be a catalyst for the economic growth of the African nations.

Through this summit, leaders will share ideas and, in the process, stimu­late further development of bilateral and multilateral contacts for many decades to come.

The Russia Africa summit will be co­chaired by Russia President Vladimir Putin and Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who currently serves as Chairman of the African Union (AU).

This is the first event in the history of the Russia-Africa relations to which the heads of all states of the African continent have been invited along with the leaders of major sub-regional associations and organizations.

“The Russia-Africa summit is of crowning significance following a se­ries of events dedicated to developing our relations. In June this year, we had the honour to take part in a field ses­sion of the Annual General Meeting of shareholders of Afreximbank, part of which consisted of the Economic Con­ference with a rich business program,” Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to Russia President and the Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee for the Summit, stressed.

“In October, as part of the summit, Sochi will host the Russia-Africa Eco­nomic Forum. This forum will be a ma­jor and vital step in creating the most favourable conditions for promoting trade and economic relations with the countries of Africa and will diversify the forms and spheres of Russia-Africa cooperation,” Kobyakov added.

Russia, as it was the case for USSR, has historically been a very strong partner and always supported Africa, especially during the African countries’ struggle for independence.

This partnership, which lasted for many years, is going to be renewed and will give African countries a chance for full coop­eration with Russia Government.

Holding these events will pro­vide an additional impetus for the development of trade and investment opportunities for Af­rican countries.

In the current era African countries, including Tanzania, encourage and welcome different stakeholders to invest espe­cially in agriculture and tourism in the countries.

The continent must take ad­vantage of the coming summit to tap the opportunities that will be offered by the Russia Govern­ment at the summit.

Russia has been Africa’s tradi­tional partner in trade. Presently, the trade between Tanzania and Russia, for example, stands at $204 million, so, there is a great need to increase trade volume between our countries.

Through this summit, Russia will provide investment opportu­nities to various sectors, so Africa has the potential to benefit from these opportunities.

Tourism is one of the opportu­nities African countries should take advantage of, since our country has so many tourist at­tractions.

“We should use this historic event to promote our tourist at­tractions so that Russia’s tourism companies could either invest in or have partnership with locals”, one of commentators for Russia- Africa affairs, who opted for ano­nymity, said.

He further said that at present Russia’s tourism companies have strong ties with their Zanzibar counterparts as currently there are shuttle direct flights from Russia to the Island.

“Through the coming summit, Air Tanzania and other airlines in the continent stand a chance to greatly benefit and may have the opportunity to start direct flights from Dar es Salaam and other parts of the continent to Moscow, if Tanzania’s companies and firms from the rest of the continent will manage to sign co­operation agreements with Rus­sia’s tourism investors,” he said.

There is, thus, a need for Tan­zania’s tourism industry stake­holders, through Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, to attend the Russia summit with a view to seeing to it the former take advantage of any opportu­nity they will have.

Apart from the tourism in­dustry, Russia has been helping African countries in the defense field, training troops, sharing se­curity information and providing military equipment.

The commentator said it should be noted that, many of the people involved in terrorist activities in Syria and other parts of the world were recruited from African countries, so after hav­ing been disbanded from Syria, many of them are making their way back to their countries.

He emphasized on the need for. Russia and Africa to have joint; strategy for nullifying the terror­ists before the latter form new terrorist groups in the continent. It should be noted that at pre­sent, Russia is one of the world’s most technologically advanced countries, the country’s military equipment is of high technol­ogy, African countries need to have closer relations with Russia in the defense sector to help us fight terrorists endangering our continent,” he said.

Russia and Africa also have good relations in the health sec­tor. Kremlin had in the past pro­vided many opportunities for Africans to study medicine in Russia.

Tanzania is one of the benefi­ciaries of the program.

“It would mutually be ben­eficial for Russia and Africa to develop these relationships and invite Russia’s businessmen to invest in such areas of the health sector like pharmaceutical man­ufacturing and private hospi­tals,” he added.

“Investment in the health sec­tor will help Africa reduce drugs shortage and increase access to good health care.”

According to information from the organizers of the Russia-Africa summit an exhibition involving Kremlin and African partners will be organized as part of the forum.

The exhibition will serve as a key platform for demonstrating achievements and potential op­portunities in economy, science, ecology, and culture.

The exhibitors will present landmark projects and advanced technologies in the mining and chemical industries, engineer­ing, energy, agriculture, trans­port, healthcare, and the mili­tary-industrial complex as well as other promising areas in which Russia and African countries can develop investment and export potential.

The Guardian

Thursday, September 12, 2019