Egypt interested in importing Tanzanian beef: minister

Egypt, a major beef consuming country in Africa, has shown interest in locating another beef import source on the continent in Tanzania.

While on a visit to Dodoma, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abu Gheit expressed his country's interest to Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete on Thursday in importing beef from Tanzania.

He said that trade in beef and associated products could easily earn Tanzania millions in foreign currency, according to reports reaching here on Friday.

Egypt has been importing beef from Ethiopia and Sudan while Tanzania is ranked third behind those two countries in Africa in terms of its total number of cattle kept by herders.

Egypt has been importing beef from Brazil, Argentina and Ireland and mutton from Australia.

"We are now changing the trend and we want to import beef from African countries," said the visiting Egyptian foreign minister in Dodoma, where Tanzania's parliament is currently in session.

Source: Xinhua