Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid meets Tanzanian President at Expo 2020 Dubai

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, met Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan at Expo 2020 Dubai on Saturday.

Sheikh Mohammed and Ms Hassan discussed ways to extend co-operation between their countries.

The meeting took place on Tanzania's national day at the world's fair, an event which included musical and theatrical performances, as well as investment forums.

Ms Hassan said the theme of Expo, Connecting Minds, Creating The Future chimed well with her country’s own theme, Ready To Take Off.

“These two themes embrace the new age of investment and trade with strategic partners like the UAE, in particular, and the Gulf in general,” she said.

“I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you all to Tanzania, where the business and investment environment are more than conducive. Come one, come all to Tanzania.”

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets Tanzania's president

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Commissioner General of Expo 2020 Dubai, said Tanzania’s participation gave visitors a window into the country’s culture.

“Tanzania has always been one of the UAE’s closest partners in the region across cultural, economic, and political fronts, and we look forward to expanding our partnership in various areas of mutual interest,” he said.

The talks came a day after Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, met Ms Hassan in Abu Dhabi.

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At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

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The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.