The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Orton Kiishweko
2 June 2008
The number of American visitors to the Sullivan Summit was yesterday expected to rise to more than 2,000, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Bernard Membe has said.
Mr Membe said 500 of the core US delegates arrived on Saturday to join thousands others from several African countries expected to attend the event dubbed the greatest ever for East and Central Africa.
The minister said 20 other countries have already confirmed participation with seven presidents, including those of Sudan, Ghana, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Kenya expected in today.
He said Kenya's president Mwai Kibaki will arrive with a delegation of over 60 business people.
The US presidential delegation of four officials led by assistant secretary of state on Africa, Ms Jendayi Frazer, arrived at Ngurdoto on Saturday.
In the spirit of taking advantage of investment opportunities, Mr Membe congratulated Arusha residents who have come up to participate in the summit.
"I have witnessed small scale traders who have taken up the opportunity and are exhibiting their products all over the municipality's business points," He said.
He called on the residents to respect and be hospitable to the over 5,000 expected visitors.
'Let's show our guests the true Tanzanian spirit such that on their departure, they will leave to remember," added Mr Membe.
Other personalities expected to attend are Jamaica's longest serving premier Percival James Patterson, former Presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Benjamin Mkapa and former Prime Minister Cleopa Msuya.
The summit will be opened by President Jakaya Kikwete and closed by Zanzibar's President Abed Aman Karume.
Past summits of this type were held in Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Senegal, Zimbabwe and Ghana while the last edition was also held in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2003.
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