Africa's fourth-largest gold producer, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the continent's tallest mountain. Tourists flock here to see the famous African “Big Five" – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros – all in one place. This is Tanzania, a country that catches more and more attention these days. Thanks to a series of reforms, it has embarked on a path of intensive economic development. And Belarus is eying it with an ever growing interest.
The history of Belarus - Tanzania diplomatic relations starts in 1996. However, bilateral trade has remained marginal until recently. Belarus supplies Tanzania with measuring equipment, pesticides, and printed materials. Tanzanian imports to our country primarily consist of seeds, coffee and tea, flowers and buds, plants, and fruits. However, cooperation horizons are much wider and still waiting to be explored. Trade relations are only gaining momentum.
Last July, Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa came to Belarus, the first ever visit to our country of this African state’s official of such a stature. The Tanzanian PM met with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Turchin, visited a number of enterprises, and signed several memoranda of understanding and cooperation.
According to Alexander Turchin, Belarus views Tanzania as an important partner in East Africa. Minsk is ready to support the country in its quest for economic development and prosperity, bolstering mutually beneficial relations in every way.
"We are aware of Tanzania's sweeping programs to take forward its economy, agriculture, transport, education, and healthcare. We see significant prospects for expanded cooperation in areas such as mechanical engineering, petrochemicals, medical, food, defence industries, and tourism," the Belarusian Prime Minister emphasized at his meeting with Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa.
Tanzania is undergoing a number of reforms to achieve sustainable economic growth, improve living standards, and strengthen democratic institutions. The transformations are mainly focused on economic liberalization, education, healthcare, and governance. While visiting the "Belmedpreparaty" enterprise, Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa stressed that, under his President's watchful eye, Tanzania is transforming its healthcare to attract more investment. The government provides various incentives, including financial ones, to create a favorable climate for foreign capital.
"The Tanzanian government supports the sector and invests in it through several agencies. These agencies can also assist Belarusian pharmaceutical companies in supplying our market with duly certified products. Investor support includes not only assistance in obtaining the necessary documents, licenses, permits, and certificates, but also exemptions fr om certain fees," - the Tanzanian Prime Minister noted.
Approximately 80 per cent of all he country’s medicals is imported, the rest is produced domestically. This opens good prospects for the launch of a pharmaceutical production in Tanzania.
Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa emphasized his country's convenient strategic location in East Africa, thanks to which investors can target not only on the local market, but neighbouring states’ markets as well.
The Tanzanian delegation studied the manufacturing process of oral anticancer drugs at Belmedpreparaty. Belarusian Health Minister Alexander Khodzhaev who accompanied the guests pointed out that Belarus uses modern equipment and maintains the highest levels of quality control.
As agreed at the meeting, a Belarusian delegation of pharmaceutical companies will soon visit Tanzania to explore its market with a view to further cooperation.
Belarus can also supply its quarrying, road construction, maintenance, firefighting, and other vehicles adapted to the needs of the East African country, particularly tractors with all kinds of attachments, harvesters, grain trucks, and grain storage and drying systems, thereby contributing to Tanzania's food security.
"We stand ready to share our knowledge, technology, and expertise, provide service support and training, collaborate on joint programs and projects. The proposal draws fr om our experience of implementing agricultural mechanization programs in Zimbabwe and Nigeria. Our machinery is well known in other African countries," emphasized Alexander Turchin.
Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ) already works closely with Tanzania, wh ere its has delivered 140 vehicles over the past few years. During the Tanzanian delegation’s visit to MTZ, the company's CEO Sergei Avramenko noted:
"As MTZ and other vehicle producers in Belarus have modernized and expanded their product range, Tanzania showed genuine interest for our new pieces, such as tractor attachements and various equipment made by MAZ and AMKODOR. I hope this cooperation to translate into commercial contracts, confirming that Belarus-made machinery is not only competitive but also generally meets all the needs of our customers."
Each of the African countries wh ere MTZ products are present, has its own requirements that depend on the arable land size and cultivated crops. There is a demand for mini-equipment, walk-behind and low-power (up to 350 hp) tractors. As for the specific case of Tanzania, 80 to 150 horsepower-vehicles have best chances here. Sergei Avramenko added that the logistics for shipments to the African market is well in place, any unlikely problem that may arise along the way can be quickly resolved.
Tanzania's premier Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa called on Belarusian business to consider closer cooperation with Tanzanian agriculture firms. He assured that his government stands ready to assist Belarusian businesses in shaping bilateral cooperation and expanding its presence in the country's market. Belarus, for its part, may buy more goods from Tanzania, including for processing and sale in the Eurasian Economic Union market, such as coffee, tea, nuts, cotton, fruits etc.
Followng the meeting of the two countries’ prime ministers, the following bilateral documents were signed:
• a Memorandum of Understanding between the ministries of foreign affairs on political consultations;
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Belarus and the Ministry of Agriculture of Tanzania on cooperation in the agricultural sector;
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education of Belarus and the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology of Tanzania on cooperation in the sphere of education;
• Memorandum of Cooperation between the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture of Tanzania. It was signed by the Chairman of the Belarusian CCI Mikhail Myatlikov and Tanzania’s Ambassador to Belarus (non-resident) Fredrick Ibrahim Kibuta.
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