ZANZIBAR President, Dr Hussein Mwinyi on Wednesday began his four-day working visit to China by officially opening a freight forwarding & logistics office in the city of Guangzhou, to strengthen transportation between the Asian country and Tanzania.

According to a press statement from the Zanzibar State House, the freight office also known as ‘Simba wa Bahari (lion of the ocean)’ is owned by the Silent Ocean Company, which has since 2004, been engaged in transporting goods from China to Tanzania.

Dr Mwinyi said at the colourful event that there is a big business between Tanzania and China and by opening the office, trade cooperation will increase between the two countries, creating more jobs for youths and women.

He also encouraged Chinese investors to invest in Zanzibar and that he would like to see more Chinese companies choosing Tanzania to look for more investment opportunities.

“We still have many areas to invest in, including blue economy, tourism, fishing and real estate sectors,” Dr Mwinyi said.

Welcoming the president to officially open the office, the Ambassador of Tanzania to China, Mr Mbelwa Kairuki said that the opening of the freight forwarding office is a springboard for Tanzanian companies and individuals to develop business cooperation with China.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Silent Ocean Company, Mr Swaleh Said Mohamed, said that they have been operating cargo transportation from China to East and Central Africa countries for almost 20 years now with success.

He explained that the company has the ability to transport 600 to 1000 containers per month.

Mr Mohamed praised President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping for strengthening cooperation between the two countries, which has boosted and eased trade.

Silent Ocean Limited is an international clearing and forwarding company with its offices located in various countries, including China, Dubai, Turkey, USA, India and Tanzania.

The company was established in 2004 and has grown rapidly to open up branch offices in various cities around the globe, such as Guangzhou, Yiwu and Keqiao cities in China mainland as well as Deira in Dubai.

Dr Mwinyi arrived in the Chinese city of Guangzhou last Tuesday. He is accompanied by his wife Mama Mariam Mwinyi and they were received by Tanzania’s Ambassador to China, Mr Mbelwa Kairuki and other Tanzanian Embassy officials in China.

Dr Mwinyi’s delegation to China also includes Union Minister for Investment, Industry and trade Dr Ashatu Kijaji, Zanzibar Minister for Trade and Industrial Development Dr Omar Said Shaban and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Co-operation, Ambassador Mbarouk Nassor Mbarouk.