Tanzania is leveraging high-level diplomacy to boost investment, trade, and development cooperation, as Vice President Dr. Philip Mpango held key bilateral talks with leaders from Vietnam and Denmark on the sidelines of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, Spain.
Dr. Mpango met with Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc, reaffirming Tanzania’s strong ties with the Southeast Asian nation, which date back to the early days of the country's independence.
Vietnam was one of the first countries to establish an embassy in Tanzania and has since maintained close relations with the Government, the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), and the Tanzanian people.
“The Government of Tanzania deeply values its 60-year relationship with Vietnam. We remain committed to strengthening our cooperation, particularly in areas of mutual interest on global platforms,” said Dr. Mpango.
He expressed Tanzania’s intention to expand collaboration in key sectors such as investment, agriculture, trade, defence, and multilateral engagement.
He also thanked the Vietnamese government for granting market access to Tanzanian products, including cashew nuts and forestry goods exports that continue to support rural livelihoods back home.
Dr. Mpango welcomed more Vietnamese investment in Tanzania, citing opportunities in agriculture, textile production, and industrial manufacturing.
He assured that the Government is committed to improving the investment climate and addressing business challenges through ongoing policy reforms and feedback platforms.
Tanzania also reiterated its readiness to deepen its partnership with Viettel Group the Vietnamese telecoms firm operating Halotel in Tanzania particularly in expanding modern connectivity services such as 5G.
In turn, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc praised Tanzania for its consistent support in international forums and described the bilateral economic relationship as increasingly vibrant.
“Vietnam remains committed to growing this partnership. Bilateral trade is already worth $150 million annually, especially in cashew nuts and forest products. We see even greater potential in boosting trade and investment through stronger institutional linkages,” he said.
On the same platform, Dr. Mpango also met with Denmark’s Minister for Development Cooperation, Ms. Elsebeth Søndergaard Krone, to reaffirm and strengthen ties between the two countries.
He extended Tanzania’s appreciation for Denmark’s longstanding support across critical sectors such as infrastructure, finance, healthcare, and water areas that have contributed meaningfully to improving lives across the country.
The two leaders agreed to scale up collaboration, with a focus on green energy, sustainable infrastructure, climate-resilient agriculture, private sector development, and environmental conservation.
“Tanzania welcomes Denmark’s continued involvement in our development journey. We are ready to explore more strategic partnerships that reflect both our national priorities and global sustainability goals,” Dr. Mpango said.
Dr. Mpango also participated in a high-level side event for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), led by Nepal’s Prime Minister Kadga Sharma Oli.
The session brought together global leaders to review progress on the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action, adopted at the Fifth UN Conference on LDCs held in Qatar last year.
Central to the discussions was the urgent need for LDCs to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation, with a specific goal of increasing national revenue collection to at least 13 percent of GDP.
The dialogue also focused on innovative approaches to finance development amid shifting global economic conditions.
Tanzania’s engagements at FfD4 highlight its growing influence in shaping international development conversations, while strategically positioning itself to attract investment and enhance bilateral partnerships.