Tanzania and Belgium are seeking to deepen their economic partnership by shifting cooperation from a traditional aid-based approach towards trade, investment, technology transfer and skills development.
The focus emerged during a meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Dr Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, and Belgium’s Ambassador-designate to Tanzania, Lot Debruyne, in Dar es Salaam.
Dr Kombo received copies of the ambassador’s credentials at the Ministry’s offices before the two officials held talks on strengthening diplomatic relations and expanding areas of cooperation between the two countries.
The minister said Tanzania wanted its partnership with Belgium to increasingly deliver economic opportunities through trade and investment rather than relying mainly on development assistance.
He identified agriculture and irrigation as priority areas, particularly the transfer of modern technology, machinery, knowledge and skills that could help farmers increase productivity and improve the value of agricultural production.
“We want to see cooperation that creates opportunities for trade, investment, skills and technology transfer,” Dr Kombo said.
Tourism was also highlighted as an area with potential for further growth. Dr Kombo pointed to direct Brussels Airlines flights to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar as an important link that could support increased tourist arrivals and strengthen business connections between Tanzania and Belgium.
The two sides also discussed cooperation in climate change resilience, clean and renewable energy, clean cooking, digital transformation and health.
Beyond these sectors, Tanzania and Belgium are looking to strengthen cooperation between the Port of Antwerp and the Port of Dar es Salaam.
Improved collaboration between the two ports could help strengthen trade links, improve the movement of goods and create new opportunities for businesses involved in international trade.
Education and language development were also discussed, particularly cooperation between Ghent University and Tanzanian institutions to promote the use of Kiswahili.
The talks point to a broader economic partnership in which Tanzania can benefit from Belgian investment, technology and expertise while expanding access to markets for Tanzanian products and services.
For citizens and businesses, stronger Tanzania-Belgium cooperation could translate into opportunities in agriculture, tourism, energy, digital services, health, education and logistics, provided the agreements reached are converted into concrete investments and commercial partnerships.
