When president Jakaya Kikwete and the First Lady of Tanzania, Salma Kikwete, visit Jamaica on a three-day state call, they will be confronted with a busy schedule.

The visit is as a result of the Jamaican Government's efforts to establish closer linkages with key African states.

The activities for the officials visit begin Monday. The Tanzanian leader will be looking at tourism-investment opportunities and will be visiting St Ann for meetings with parish officials and Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett.

Order of Excellence

One of the high points of the visit will be Kikwete's address to the joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament. This will be followed by a state dinner, hosted in honour of the visiting heads by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, at which the president will be conferred with the Order of Excellence.

The president will also meet with Prime Minister Bruce Golding, be part of bilateral meetings at the Office of the Prime Minister, as well as make numerous courtesy calls, beginning with Leader of the Opposition Portia Simpson Miller and former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.

Of the numerous activities lined up for the African officials is a visit to Liberty Hall in downtown Kingston, a cultural and educational institution which honours the legacy of Marcus Garvey.

Activities

Several other activities have been planned for the visiting heads before their departure to Trinidad on November 26 for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference.

Kikwete's visit stems from a visit earlier this year by Tanzania's minister of water and irrigation and officials of that East African energy and water utilities regulatory authority.

That meeting ended with the Office of Utilities Regulation putting forward a proposal for both countries to sign a memorandum of understanding to exchange information and experience to foster a long-term sustainable relationship.

nadisha.hunter@gleanerjm.com