EAM Jaishankar meets Zanzibar President; discusses expanding cooperation in education, AI, digital sectors
New Delhi, July 19
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday met Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania, and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, in New Delhi and discussed ways to further expand bilateral cooperation across a range of priority sectors, including higher education, capacity building, healthcare, artificial intelligence, digital technology and water supply.
Sharing details of the meeting on X, EAM Jaishankar described the interaction as productive and reaffirmed India's commitment to strengthening its development partnership with Zanzibar and Tanzania.
He wrote, "A pleasure to meet Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, today in Delhi. We discussed expanding our cooperation in higher education, capacity building, water supply, health, AI, digital and other priority sectors."
Highlighting the growing collaboration in the education sector, EAM Jaishankar said, "@IITMZanzibar stands as a shining example of our close partnership and India's enduring commitment to Africa's education and development priorities."
The meeting comes as India and Tanzania continue to deepen their strategic partnership through enhanced cooperation in education, technology, capacity building and development initiatives.
President Mwinyi is on an official visit to India following his engagements in Chennai, where he attended the 63rd Convocation Ceremony of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras as the Chief Guest on Friday. During his visit to Chennai, he also highlighted the importance of academic collaboration between India and Zanzibar, particularly through the IIT Madras Zanzibar campus, India's first overseas IIT campus.
Earlier on Saturday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed the visiting leader upon his arrival in New Delhi.
In a post on X, Jaiswal said, "Warmly welcome Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, as he arrives in New Delhi."
He added, "The visit follows President Mwinyi's successful engagements in Chennai yesterday, where he attended the 63rd Convocation Ceremony of IIT Madras as the Chief Guest."
Highlighting the significance of the visit, Jaiswal further noted, "The visit reflects the growing momentum in the India-Tanzania Strategic Partnership, building on longstanding people-to-people ties and our shared priorities as partners in the Global South."
President Mwinyi's visit is expected to further strengthen India-Tanzania relations by expanding cooperation in education, digital innovation, healthcare, capacity building and other key sectors. It also underscores India's continued engagement with African partners through development partnerships, knowledge sharing and institutional collaboration, with the IIT Madras Zanzibar campus serving as a flagship example of the two countries' growing educational and strategic ties.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, while international cooperation is good, I hope this isn't just a photo-op. We have enough IIT seats in India that are hard to get into and now we're setting up campuses abroad? The government should first figure out our own domestic education challenges before exporting IITs. Just saying.
This is fantastic news! Africa has always been a priority for India's foreign policy, and bringing in AI, digital, and water supply cooperation is exactly what we need. The Global South narrative is finally taking shape beyond just words. Kudos to EAM Jaishankar for his vision!
As someone who studied at IIT Madras, seeing this partnership in Zanzibar is incredible. It shows how education can bridge continents. But I really hope the infrastructure there is good enough for such a high-standard institution. Would love to see more details on how they'll maintain quality.
Good to see India taking its know-how to Africa. Water supply schemes, AI, digital tech—these are areas where we have solid expertise. But I hope we aren't just giving away technology without getting anything in return. Tanzania has strategic resources, and this should be a two-way street. 🤔
EAM Jaishankar is really building bridges everywhere! First the Maldives, then Sri Lanka, now Zanzibar. Love how India is positioning itself as a reliable development partner for Africa. The IIT in Zanzibar will be a game-changer for many students there. 🙌
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