Tanzania and Serbia are set to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, education and the Blue Economy, Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi has said.
Dr Mwinyi said the two countries had an opportunity to turn their longstanding political friendship into stronger economic ties that deliver tangible benefits to citizens.
He made the remarks on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, in Belgrade after meeting Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut at the end of his visit to Serbia.
Dr Mwinyi said his visit had opened new opportunities for economic cooperation, particularly in agriculture, where Serbia could support Tanzania through access to fertilisers, quality seeds, technology and expertise in crop processing.
He said greater cooperation in these areas could help strengthen agricultural productivity while creating opportunities for trade and investment between the two countries.
Tourism was another area Dr Mwinyi identified for closer cooperation. He said establishing direct air links between Serbia and Tanzania would make it easier for people to travel between the two countries and could increase tourist arrivals, trade and investment.
For Zanzibar, he said the Blue Economy presented significant opportunities for expanding economic ties with Serbia and European markets.
“Zanzibar has considerable potential in fisheries, seaweed production and other marine activities,” Dr Mwinyi said, stressing the need to identify additional markets for Zanzibar's marine products in Serbia and across Europe.
He also welcomed Serbia's decision to establish a permanent embassy in Tanzania, saying the move would provide a stronger platform for advancing bilateral relations.
Dr Mwinyi further thanked the Serbian government for providing scholarship opportunities to Tanzanian students, describing education as an important area for strengthening people-to-people ties.
Prof Macut said Serbia valued its historic friendship with Tanzania, which dates back to the former Yugoslavia, and expressed his country's readiness to explore new areas of cooperation.
He identified trade, tourism, agriculture, fisheries and agro-processing as sectors with significant potential for expanded bilateral engagement.
Before departing Serbia, Dr Mwinyi visited the Museum of Yugoslavia at the House of Flowers in Belgrade, where he laid a wreath at the tomb of former Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito, one of the founding figures of the Non-Aligned Movement.
His visit included participation in a High-Level Special Meeting marking the 65th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement, alongside diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening Tanzania-Serbia relations.
Dr Mwinyi was expected to return to Zanzibar on Wednesday after concluding the visit.