Tanzania is seeking to deepen economic ties with Vietnam by attracting investment and technology into agriculture, agro-processing, infrastructure, mining and other productive sectors as the country looks to expand value addition and industrial activity.
The push was made in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, during a Tanzania-Vietnam Business Forum aimed at connecting investors and businesses from the two countries.
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation James Millya said Tanzania wanted Vietnamese companies to move beyond trade and explore opportunities to invest in sectors with potential to create jobs, increase production and strengthen local value chains.
“We welcome investors from Vietnam to come to Tanzania and take advantage of opportunities available in different areas of the economy. Tanzania is ready to work with them to promote trade and investment that benefits both sides,” Mr Millya said.
He said opportunities existed in agriculture, agro-processing, irrigation, fisheries, mining, technology, infrastructure and the blue economy.
The government was also working to improve the infrastructure needed to support investment, including railways, ports, electricity, industrial parks and air transport, he said.
The focus on agriculture and processing is particularly significant as Tanzania seeks to increase the value of locally produced commodities rather than relying mainly on exports of raw materials.
Vietnamese investment could also bring technology and expertise that may help improve productivity and processing capacity, although the scale of the impact will depend on how investment agreements are implemented and how much value is retained within Tanzania.
Vietnam's Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep said his country was ready to expand cooperation with Tanzania beyond telecommunications and explore opportunities in areas such as modern agriculture.
He said the two countries needed clear implementation plans to ensure that agreements reached between them translated into actual projects.
“What is needed is for both sides to prepare a good implementation plan for the various agreements reached,” Mr Hiep said.
The forum brought together Tanzanian and Vietnamese businesses and institutions, including the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), the Cashew Board of Tanzania, Tanganyika Coffee (TANICA) and the National Irrigation Commission.
Vietnamese companies including Intimex, VinGroup and Philimex also participated in the forum.
For Tanzania, the immediate question is whether the investment opportunities presented at such forums can translate into actual factories, farms, processing facilities, technology partnerships and jobs.
That will depend not only on attracting capital but also on creating predictable investment conditions, ensuring projects are implemented and strengthening linkages between foreign investors and local businesses.
The Tanzania-Vietnam forum therefore comes as part of a broader effort to turn bilateral economic relations into investment and production opportunities that can have a direct impact on Tanzania's economy and businesses.