TANZANIA and France have agreed to a development partnership in which the latter will for three years support various social services, including ensuring availability of clean and safe water.

A statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday said the two countries have endorsed the project, to focus on two to three sectors for better results.The agreement was reached on Tuesday between President Jakaya Kikwete and the Chief Executive Officer of the French Development Agency (AFD), Mr Dov Zerah, in Paris.

President Kikwete had proposed the renewal of the agreement, which existed between 2006 and 2010, and Mr Zerah accepted without hesitation.

Under the previous agreement, Tanzania received 50.9 million US dollars and the focus was on supporting clean and safe water projects in Utete and Mpwapwa towns as well as small towns surrounding Lake Victoria.

"We are ready to partner with you in fostering the government efforts to help people develop. I agree with you that we should launch a new programme to last for two or three years as you proposed," Mr Zerah told the Tanzanian leader.President Kikwete concluded his three-day official tour to France on Tuesday on the invitation of French President François Hollande.