Tanzania and Russia are exploring potential joint ventures in key areas including energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and tourism, as revealed during a meeting between Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and Russia’s Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov in Dar es Salaam.
Minister Reshetnikov, leading a Russian delegation, arrived in Tanzania to participate in the inaugural meeting of the Russian-Tanzanian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation. Prime Minister Majaliwa emphasized Tanzania’s strategic appeal for business, highlighting its stable environment and strategic location as advantages for investors.
Majaliwa underscored Tanzania’s extensive network of ports on the Indian Ocean and major lakes, as well as its growing transport infrastructure, including roads, central and TAZARA railways, and the developing Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). Once the SGR is fully operational, it will facilitate transportation of goods to Rwanda, Uganda, and the DR Congo.
The Prime Minister also highlighted Tanzania’s ambition to become an African food production hub and invited Russian investors to utilize the country’s fertile lands for agriculture. He noted that Tanzania offers access to a sizable market of over 300 million in East Africa, along with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) market, which has another 300 million consumers.
Minister Reshetnikov remarked on Russia’s longstanding diplomatic relations with Tanzania and expressed readiness to support the nation’s progress in energy, agriculture, and infrastructure. He emphasized that the first Russia-Tanzania commission meeting, a result of an agreement signed in December 2022, aims to formalize this commitment and encourage business opportunities. Reshetnikov noted that around 50 Russian companies were attending a business forum in Tanzania, eager to tap into the country’s potential.
With mutual interest growing, both leaders are optimistic that Tanzania and Russia can further double their trade volumes and advance collaborative projects in various sectors, helping Tanzania meet its economic goals.
