The Oman Journalists Association (OJA) and Tanzania’s Journalists Workers Union (JOWUTA) are set to organise an international media conference in Tanzania later this year, with trade, investment, tourism and journalism expected to feature prominently.
The planned conference is part of efforts to deepen professional ties between journalists in the two countries and use media cooperation to support wider economic and diplomatic relations between Tanzania and Oman.
The agreement was reached yesterday, August 19, 2026, during a meeting between an OJA delegation, JOWUTA and government officials in Dar es Salaam.
The OJA delegation, which is in Tanzania at the invitation of JOWUTA, is led by its Vice-Chairman, Salem Hamad Al-Jahwari.
The meeting was also attended by officials from the Information Department-Maelezo under the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports.
Mr Al-Jahwari said the visit was aimed at establishing a stronger framework for cooperation that would enable journalists from both countries to exchange professional experience, undertake training and build their capacity.
He said the proposed conference would go beyond journalism by bringing together stakeholders from strategic sectors, including trade, investment and tourism, creating an opportunity to identify areas where media cooperation could support economic relations.
“This is about opening doors for direct cooperation between our journalists, building on the long-standing relationship between our two governments,” Mr Al-Jahwari said.
He noted that Tanzania and Oman share historical ties stretching back more than 150 years, saying stronger relations between media professionals could help translate those longstanding links into practical cooperation.
The conference will be the second OJA-organised gathering of its kind in Africa after Egypt, while similar forums have previously been held in the United Kingdom, the United States, China and Türkiye.
For Tanzania, the proposed meeting could provide local media professionals with greater exposure to international practices while creating a platform for discussions on issues affecting journalism and the broader economy.
Assistant Director of the Information Department-Maelezo, Evod Kyando, welcomed the initiative, saying international partnerships in the media sector could contribute to promoting Tanzania and opening opportunities for economic engagement.
He said the timing of the conference was appropriate, particularly given the importance of tourism, trade and investment to the country’s economic development.
JOWUTA Secretary-General Selemani Msuya said the partnership would provide practical benefits to journalists, particularly through training and the exchange of editorial and investigative journalism skills.
“We thank OJA for recognising JOWUTA and involving us in preparations for this international conference. We will ensure the opportunity is used to promote the media sector and our country,” Mr Msuya said.
The planned conference is therefore expected to serve as more than a meeting of journalists, with organisers positioning it as a platform for strengthening professional networks and supporting Tanzania-Oman cooperation in areas that directly contribute to economic opportunities and development.
