MFA: Blanar to Visit Kenya and Tanzania Next Week

Bratislava, 7 June (TASR) - Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) will leave for Kenya and Tanzania on Monday (8 June), the Foreign Affairs Ministry's communications department informed TASR on Sunday. The aim of his five-day visit, which also includes one of the largest Slovak business missions to sub-Saharan Africa, is to strengthen political dialogue, development cooperation, and economic and investment relations. In Nairobi, Kenya, Blanar is scheduled to hold talks with Vice-president Kithure Kindiki and National Assembly Speaker Moses Masika Wetangula. In Tanzania, he will hold bilateral talks with his counterpart Mahmoud Thabit Kombo. "Africa is one of the most dynamically developing regions with growing economic and geopolitical importance, a young population and great development potential. There's also one of the UN's headquarters here, which means further important opportunities within multilateralism for Slovakia. Global South countries are among the priorities of Slovak diplomacy, therefore our goal is to build modern and mutually beneficial partnerships on the African continent as well," stated Blanar. The business delegation accompanying the head of Slovak diplomacy comprises representatives of 32 Slovak companies and institutions engaged in the energy, agriculture, water management, defence and health-care sectors. Part of the programme in Kenya is the opening of a Slovak-Kenyan busines and development forum, as well as talks with UN officials, including with Under-Secretary General Zainab Hawa Bangura. In Tanzania, Blanar is due to hold talks with the country's foreign affairs minister and participate in the opening first Slovak embassy in Dar es Salaam. According to the minister, the new diplomatic mission will create better conditions for political dialogue, the development of economic diplomacy, and development cooperation. Blanar should also attend the Slovak-Tanzanian business forum. Similarly as in Kenya, he will also meet UN officials in Tanzania. ko