The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Hon. Ambassador Dr. Pindi Chana (MP), met with a German delegation led by Mr. Christoph Retzlaff, Director for Sub-Saharan Africa and the Sahel at the German Federal Foreign Office.
The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation between Tanzania and Germany, especially in conservation and ongoing projects funded by Germany through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The meeting was held today, December 5, 2024, at the National College of Tourism in Dar es Salaam.
Discussions focused on cultural heritage preservation, development of the National Museums, and biodiversity conservation.
Minister Chana thanked Germany for its continued support in the natural resources and tourism sectors. She highlighted how this support has helped the sector grow, contributing 17% to Tanzania’s GDP and 25% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
"The increase in tourist arrivals has created many jobs, both directly and indirectly. It has also helped small business owners like taxi drivers, food vendors, and those offering accommodation services to earn more income," said Minister Chana.
Mr. Christoph Retzlaff praised Tanzania as an important partner for Germany. He expressed Germany’s commitment to expanding cooperation, especially in protecting biodiversity.
The meeting was attended by the German Ambassador to Tanzania, H.E. Thomas Terstegen, Tanzania’s Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Hassan Mwamweta, and other officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Museums of Tanzania, and the Tanzania Tourism Board.