ENHANCING trade between Zanzibar and the Comoros for the benefit of both sides needs to be conducted by reviving economic diplomacy in that sphere, President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi has declared.

He made the remarks yesterday at the Zanzibar State House at a meeting with Ibrahim Mzee, the governor of Moroni City, Ngazija Islands accompanied by a delegation, who set out –plans to strengthen cooperation between the two island states.

He advised the delegation to send groups of Comorian businesspeople to Zanzibar to explore trade and investment opportunities, as was the case in previous years.

Both sides should consider reviving sea transport services to boost existing trade and social opportunities, he said, citing the need for a special arrangement for Zanzibar teachers to go to the Comoros to teach Swahili.

Comorians would also come to Zanzibar to learn the language, he stated, expecting this to be fairly easy as the languages of the two countries are quite similar. Some in the audience had the view that Comorian teachers could as well help Zanzibar pupils to become familiar with French

For his part, the governor praised Zanzibar for its rapid development and transformation, affirming that his country could learn from Zanzibar's success.

He extended an invitation to President Mwinyi to visit the Ngazija Islands to exchange experiences on development initiatives, while stressing the need for closer cooperation between the respective chambers of commerce, farmers and industrialists in Zanzibar and in the Comoros.

Zanzibar City mayor Mahmoud Muhammed Mussa, accompanying the delegation, said that the delegation would be in Zanzibar for three days, engaging in discussions on cooperation between Zanzibar and Moroni city authorities and municipalities.

The delegation will visit the historic Stone Town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and hold talks with Idrissa Kitwana Mustafa, the Urban West regional commissioner, on ways of enhancing cooperation, he added.