Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi has called for concrete results from his recent visits to Qatar, Spain and Armenia, highlighting investment interest, youth football development and environmental cooperation as key opportunities for the islands.
Dr Mwinyi said the visits had opened doors for partnerships that could support Zanzibar’s economic growth and improve opportunities for young people, but stressed that the agreements reached must be translated into tangible benefits for citizens.
He made the remarks on October 18, 2026, upon arriving at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport after returning from the three countries.
On investment, Dr Mwinyi said Qatar-based Alfardan Group had expressed interest in investing in Zanzibar, potentially opening opportunities for capital inflows and new economic activities.
The statement did not specify the proposed investment projects, their value or the timeline for implementation, leaving further details on the potential commitments to be established.
In sports, an agreement between the Real Madrid Foundation and Unicorn Zanzibar Sports Limited is expected to promote football talent among young people and strengthen the skills of local coaches.
The partnership presents an opportunity to improve grassroots football development by giving young players access to structured training while building the capacity of coaches responsible for nurturing local talent.
For Zanzibar, the impact will depend on how the programme is implemented, including the number of young people reached, the availability of training facilities and the sustainability of support for local coaches.
Dr Mwinyi also said his participation in Armenia had created opportunities to strengthen international cooperation in environmental conservation, climate change mitigation and the protection of marine resources.
The areas are important to Zanzibar, where coastal ecosystems and marine resources support livelihoods and economic activities. Strengthening conservation efforts and international cooperation could help address environmental pressures while supporting the sustainable use of these resources.
However, the President emphasised that the discussions and agreements reached during the visits should move beyond diplomatic engagements and produce measurable outcomes.
He said effective implementation was necessary to ensure the partnerships contributed to Zanzibar’s development and that of Tanzania as a whole.
The visits have highlighted potential areas of cooperation in investment, sports and environmental protection. Their significance will ultimately be measured by whether the interest expressed and agreements reached translate into implemented projects, expanded opportunities for young people and lasting benefits for communities.