Tanzanian President Hassan conferred honorary doctorate by JNU, says will 'forever be etched in my history'

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is on a four-day visit to India, was conferred an honorary doctorate by Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday.Addressing an event to honour the Tanzanian President at Jawaharlal Nehru University, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, "It is a matter of great pride for us to confer the honorary doctorate on Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan from JNU. I take particular satisfaction in this as an alumnus of this university. By honouring her with an educational conferment, we not only recognise a long association with India but highlight this particular aspect of our relationship."He said over 5,000 Tanzanian nationals have been trained in educational institutions in India."India also plays host to several Tanzanian students who study in India and in our universities, young minds brim with confidence as they shape, India's future through the startups, inventions and innovations...," said the External Affairs Minister.Talking about the first overseas campus of the Indian Institute of Technology in Zanzibar, Jaishankar said that Tanzania was the preferred destination for the venture."Classes for the first batch are scheduled to begin this month. The institution has the potential to become the premier centre for technical education for the entire African continent. It is symbolic of our cooperation with the Global South. It is a personal privilege to have been present in Zanzibar at its inauguration. I believe 70 students have been finalised," said Jaishankar.He said the rise of Africa is central to global rebalancing and inclusion of the African Union into the G20 as a full member was one of the highest successes."Most of our Embassies that we have opened in the last decade, are in that continent. India and Tanzania enjoy traditionally close and friendly relations marked by some political understanding regular high-level visits, diversified economic engagement, and strong people-to-people contacts," said the minister.Jaishankar said the trade relations with Tanzania date back several centuries, when traders from the western coast of India first travelled to East Africa, along the maritime route for trade and commerce."Economic ties between our two countries have always been a strong pillar...Our trade relations with Tanzania date back several centuries, when traders from the western coast of India first travelled to East Africa, along the maritime route for trade and commerce. Despite the global disruption and challenges posed by the pandemic, our bilateral trade has witnessed strong growth from both sides...," added Jaishankar.Thanking JNU for the honour, Tanzanian president said this honorary degree will forever be etched in her history as it is the first to be conferred on her by a foreign university."This honorary degree will forever be etched in my history, the first to be awarded to me by a foreign country. This is the first one to be conferred by a foreign university...," said Samia Suluhu Hassan."The world says, there is no midway in falling in love with India, be it an Indian song, an Indian movie, or Indian cuisine, it is very difficult to resist an Indian charm. I experienced it when I came to India for the first time in 1998 to study in Hyderabad. I stand here as a family member of Jawaharlal Nehru University and no more as a visiting guest. This is what makes India irresistible. This is what makes India, the Incredible India..." added Hassan.Hassan became the first woman to receive the honorary award from the university.With inputs from agencies