ZANZIBAR President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi yesterday arrived from the UK, where he attended the Commonwealth Business and Investment Forum, expressing satisfaction with the trip outcomes.

Speaking to journalists at the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, he said that government priorities of tourism, the blue economy along with oil and gas exploration had attracted significant investor interest, with various companies expressing interest to invest in the Isles.

The visit has had beneficial outcomes for Zanzibar in sparking considerable interest among investors, eager to invest in the island and especially in the blue economy, he said, asserting that Zanzibar’s economy was steadily growing, at upwards of seven percent annually.

Addressing the issue of the Zanzibar Diaspora, he said that the process to grant them special status has made significant progress as the proposal has been placed before the legislature which is now before Parliament.

The current proposal is intended to provide the Diaspora with opportunities such as land acquisition, travel insurance and recognition for their families, he stated, seeing this effort as part of government efforts in ensuring sound policies, promoting investment opportunities and welcoming investors from around the world.

Affirming his assurance to investors that the government is fully committed to collaborating with them to achieve their goals, he said that UK investors have shown interest in adding value to Zanzibar’s seaweed industry.

They seek to expand its value chain as well as enhancing research and capacity building for seaweed farmers, he said, similarly pointing to the oil and gas sector as attracting several companies which have already entered into contracts with the government.

The focus at present is to explore and gather data on the island’s resources, which promises to attract more international investors as the opportunities for investment in Zanzibar are vast/

“We are working hard to promote them on the global stage,” he said, welcoming UK investors to explore opportunities in renewable energy like wind, solar and waste-to-energy projects.

This will help Zanzibar become self-sufficient in its energy needs, he said, noting that

Zanzibar faces increasing electricity consumption, demand and hence considerable need for investments in the energy sector.

On tourism, the President reiterated the country’s commitment to sustainable tourism, stressing that Zanzibar prioritizes environmental conservation, focusing on attracting high-value tourists contributing significantly to the economy.