allAfrica.com: Tanzania: Sullivan Summit Opens in Arusha (Page 1 of 2)

President Jakaya Kikwete is today scheduled to officially open the 8th Sullivan Summit in Arusha that is playing host to one of the largest gatherings bringing together political and business leaders, civil society and academics to discuss Africa's development.

President Kikwete will play host to thousands of delegates attending the meeting, the first of its kind in this region, with Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Bernard Membe yesterday saying at least seven African head of states have confirmed their participation.

Member said by last night, a 1500 strong core delegation from America was expected to be in Arusha for the summit that is anticipated to enhance the country's presence in the international tourism circuit and also attract more direct foreign investments.

Arusha town was a bee hive of activities as individuals and organisations made last minute preparations to play a part and make some income and build contacts during the event.

However confusion reigned for a better part of yesterday in the allocation of booths for small and medium enterprise (SME) exhibitors who by midday had not been allocated space where to showcase their exhibits.

Overwhelmed officials were involved in frantic meetings to try to diffuse growing tension and impatience among the hundreds of exhibitors who feared they would locked out of the meeting due to lack of space.

According to information obtained last evening, Kikwete will open the meeting late afternoon and later host a state banquet for the visitors. Other plenary meetings however kick off this morning.

Expected head of states who are scheduled to arrive from today include the host Kikwete, Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan, John Kufour of Ghana, Armando Emilio Gebuza of Mozambique and Mwai kibaki of Kenya whose 60 people delegation of government officials and business people is said to be one of the largest, followed by Mozambique which has 39 officials.

Other presidents include Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Moahmmed Abdelazi of the Arab Republic of Saharawi and retired Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo.

Uganda wuill be represented by vice president Prof Gilbert Balibaseka while the minister for labour Thoko Didiza will be there on behalf of South Africa.

According to Minister Membe, delegates are expected to come from more than 20 countries that include Nigeria, Brazil, Namibia, Angola, Morocco, Zambia, Botswana, Congo, Libya and Swaziland.

Reports said presidents Bingu Mutharika of Malawi, Enerood Jugnauth of Mauritius, James Micel of Seychelles and Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdala of Mauritania were still expected to confirm their arrivals.

Arusha town was a bee hive of as foreign and local delegates continues to arrived in the municipality .Various streets and roads in the municipality have been decorated with posters depicting the country's natural and cultural heritages, targeted mainly to the foreign delegates from the United States.

Most of the streets have been spruced up and buildings repainted for the five day event which aims to bring the Africans in Diaspora much closer with their ancentral home, now the world's poorest continent.

Many residents of the municipality of 400,000 say they are happy with the Summit because with it Arusha is now having street lights for the first time in its 120 year history.

The biennial summit, whose preparations started nearly two years ago, has also seen increased rooms in hotels and lodges and, of course, employment for hundreds of people in and outside Arusha.

Police have reinforced security personnel to maintain peace during the entire period of the meeting.

A high-powered delegation from the US led by the Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne jetted at the Kilimanjaro International Airport yesterday to a rousing welcome from the traditional dances and local officials.

The former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, who hosted the seventh Sullivan Summit two years ago, was scheduled to land at the Arusha airport later afternoon.

For the second day yesterday KIA, the country's second largest airport roughly midway between Arusha and Moshi, continued to be hectic as planes bringing foreign and local delegates landed.

High profile dignitaries from the US included Rev. Jesse Jackson and the former American ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young and several top singers and other famous players in the entertainment industry in the world' strongest economy.

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