ANKARA University, the second largest in Turkey, will today confer President Samia Suluhu Hassan with an honorary doctorate (Honoris Causa) in Economics.

Prof. Necdet Ünüvar, the varsity rector, is expected to preside over the awarding ceremony and attended by faculty staff and students, plus members of the diplomatic corps from various African embassies in the Turkish capital.

This is the fourth LL.D conferred to President Samia after the Jawaharlal Nehru University in India, the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA).

A statement by the university said that the award seeks to recognise her unique leadership, bringing about social, political and economic reforms in Tanzania and improving people’s well-being.

The president’s leadership had strengthened Tanzania's reputation in the world, promoting commercial, economic and political relations between Tanzania and other countries, with Turkey as an outstanding example, it said.

January Makamba, the Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation minister, said on his X handle that after the event, President Samia will proceed to the presidential palace for talks with host President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Another key event is proceeding to Istanbul, the commercial capital, as a key guest in the Tanzania-Turkey business conference, on the second day of a five day state visit.

Talks with the Turkish leader are expected to focus on priority areas to further heighten ties and promote trade, where exploring business openings and education links are uppermost.

Trade volumes between the two nations reached $22m last year from $9m six years earlier with Tanzania’s exports to Turkey including agro-produce and gems.

President Samia shall witness the signing of agreements on higher education scholarships, technology, document storage, science and innovation, an earlier statement indicated.

The Tanzania-Turkey Business Conference is described as a landmark in boosting the presence of Turkish investors here, and expanding Tanzania’s commodity markets in Türkiye, the minister had stated, affirming that Turkey is among the fastest growing economies in southern Europe.

"The President’s visit is a great opportunity for us; we are going to benefit technologically as well as increase our trade volumes; we will also look at new business opportunities that would boost our exports,” he stated.

Other export products from Tanzania include coffee, coconuts, raw tobacco, fish fillets, rice and beans, with sales from these products reaching $15.99m in the past year.

Local investments of Turkish companies are estimated at $414.23m particularly in transportation, industrial production and tourism, creating an estimated 6,062 jobs for the country’s youths in particular.