Tanzania and EU Strengthen Trade and Investment Cooperation to Support Vision 2050

**Tanzania and European Union Agree to Deepen Trade and Investment Cooperation**

*Dar es Salaam, 26 August 2026* – Tanzania and the European Union (EU) concluded a dialogue aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties to support Tanzania’s National Development Vision 2050. The meeting, held in Dar es Salaam, brought together representatives from EU member states, the EU Delegation to Tanzania, European business associations, and several Tanzanian government agencies.

Key Tanzanian participants included the Immigration Department, the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA). The dialogue was co‑chaired by Prof. Kitila Mkumbo, Minister of State in the President’s Office for Planning and Investment, and EU ambassadors Anne‑Sophie Avé (France) and Nicola Brennan (Ireland).

Prof. Mkumbo said the forum provided an opportunity “to assess progress made in improving the business and investment environment and identify challenges requiring urgent solutions.” He added that the government would continue to “build a business environment that is conducive and competitive for investors, to attract productive investment that contributes to economic growth and benefits the country and its citizens.”

Ambassador Said Shaib Mussa, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, noted that the ministry would act as a liaison between international investors, businesses, and Tanzanian authorities to ensure that trade and investment align with the country’s development objectives.

The EU side emphasized its commitment to remain a “key development partner for Tanzania,” with the ambassadors stating that trade and investment are essential for achieving Vision 2050.

The discussions are part of the broader Tanzania‑EU partnership established under the Samoa Agreement, which entered into force in 2024. The agreement underpins the first Tanzania‑EU Partnership Dialogue held on 10 December 2024, covering political, economic, and development cooperation.

As a concrete follow‑up, the EU‑Tanzania Investment and Business Forum 2026‑2027 was launched on 20 August 2026. The forum will feature investment roadshows in Finland, Italy and the Netherlands from 28 September to 6 October 2026, followed by a high‑level EU‑Tanzania Investment and Business Forum in Dar es Salaam in early 2027. Tanzania has identified 68 projects, valued at US $30.1 billion, for presentation during the roadshows. The projects span agriculture and agribusiness, critical minerals, digital innovation and fintech, with renewable energy and transport and logistics highlighted as enabling sectors.

The EU has allocated €585 million in grant funding for its partnership with Tanzania for the 2021‑2027 period, targeting climate and energy, digital infrastructure, and transport corridors. Bilateral trade between the EU and Tanzania reached €1.95 billion in 2024, according to figures from the EU Delegation.

The dialogue underscores both parties’ intent to translate the broader partnership framework into tangible investment promotion initiatives, aligning with Tanzania’s Vision 2050 development goals.

Article and image source: tanzaniainvest.com