Tanzania and the European Union (EU) have agreed to deepen cooperation in trade and investment, with the partnership expected to play a greater role in driving economic growth and advancing the country’s Development Vision 2050.
The agreement was reached during discussions held in Dar es Salaam on August 26, bringing together representatives of EU member states, the EU Delegation in Tanzania, European business associations and key government institutions involved in trade and investment facilitation.
The meeting brought together officials from the Immigration Department, Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), highlighting the role of regulatory and investment agencies in creating an environment conducive to international business.
Opening the discussions, Minister of State in the President’s Office—Planning and Investment, Prof Kitila Mkumbo, said the engagement provided an opportunity for Tanzania and the EU to assess progress made in improving the business and investment climate while identifying challenges that require immediate attention.
Prof Mkumbo, who co-chaired the meeting, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating a predictable and competitive investment environment capable of attracting productive capital and generating wider economic benefits.
“The objective is to attract productive investments that can drive economic growth and bring tangible benefits to the country and its people,” Prof Mkumbo said.
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Said Shaib Mussa, said the ministry would continue facilitating engagement between international investors and businesses and relevant government authorities.
He said stronger coordination was necessary to ensure that international trade and investment contribute meaningfully to Tanzania’s national development priorities.
On the EU side, French Ambassador to Tanzania Anne-Sophie Avé and Irish Ambassador Nicola Brennan, who co-chaired the discussions, expressed the bloc’s readiness to remain a key development partner for Tanzania.
They said trade and investment would remain central to EU-Tanzania relations, particularly as the country moves towards implementing the ambitions outlined in Development Vision 2050.
The discussions followed the Tanzania-EU Political Dialogue, reflecting efforts by both sides to translate their broader diplomatic relationship into practical cooperation in areas with direct implications for economic growth, investment and private-sector development.