ZANZIBAR President Dr Hussein Mwinyi has asked the new Tanzanian Ambassador to the Comoros Said Othman Yakubu to look for possible collaboration opportunities in health, education, culture, trade and transport.

Dr Mwinyi said this on Tuesday when he held talks with the envoy who visited him at the State House in Zanzibar.

He said the aim of the talks was to further promote and maintain good collaboration between Tanzania and Comoros.

Dr Mwinyi  said that Zanzibar Shipping Corporation has planned to procure new two ships, adding that MV Mapinduzi has been renovated and will soon commence its services to Comoros.

“I have agreed to establish the Comoros consulate in Zanzibar to further promote trade and other collaborations,” he said.

He said Zanzibar is prepared for medical tourism, adding that Lumumba Hospital has been dedicated for out patients from Comoros once its construction is over.

Ambassador Yakubu promised to reinforce areas of cooperation to   maintain historic links and blood relations between the people of Comoros and Zanzibar which existed for decades.

On April 13 this year, President Samia Suluhu Hassan appointed Saidi Othman Yakubu as Tanzania’s Ambassador to the Comoros.

Yakubu was Ambassador at large in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation under the economic diplomacy portfolio.

He previously served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports and Assistant Regional Secretary for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Africa Region.

Yakubu takes over from Ambassador Pereira Silima, whose tour of duty has ended.

Many Tanzanians, particularly those from Zanzibar, have close family and business ties with the Comoros.