Dar es Salaam. Tanzania and Egypt have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, with a focus on economic cooperation and strategic development projects.
The Egyptian minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Egyptians Abroad, Dr Badr Abdelatty, is now visiting Tanzania to cement the ties between the two countries.
He held talks with his counterpart, the Tanzanian minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo.
Speaking to journalists after their discussions on March 20 in Dar es Salaam, Mr Kombo said the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project stands as a testament to the strong relations between the two nations.
Mr Kombo outlined key areas where Tanzania and Egypt could expand cooperation, including trade, investment, fisheries, agriculture, tourism, port services, and transportation.
He invited EgyptAir to increase its flights to Tanzania to facilitate trade and tourism.
“Trade between Tanzania and Egypt has shown a positive trajectory, increasing from Sh84.3 billion in 2019 to Sh142 billion in 2023. This is encouraging, but we agree that there is significant room for growth, and we must do more to sustain this progress,” he said.
Additionally, he urged Tanzanians to take advantage of training opportunities offered by the Egyptian government in fields such as medicine and agriculture.
For his part, Mr Abdelatty confirmed Egypt’s readiness to deepen trade and investment ties with Tanzania.
He noted that Egypt was keen to collaborate on infrastructure projects, including railway, road, and port development.
“Tanzania is a key agricultural hub for many African countries, and Egypt is interested in becoming a major importer of Tanzanian agricultural products,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of sustainable water resource management, particularly the Nile River, and called for joint efforts in preserving shared water sources for future generations.
Egypt currently ranks as the eighth-largest investor in Tanzania, with investments amounting to $1.37 billion and creating employment for approximately 3,776 Tanzanians.
Strengthening trade and investment ties
The two ministers also officiated the opening of the Tanzania-Egypt Business and Investment Forum in Dar es Salaam, which brought together business leaders from both nations to explore investment opportunities.
Mr Kombo welcomed Egyptian investors, highlighting Tanzania’s favourable investment climate and incentives across various sectors.
He noted that the strong political will between Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has created an enabling environment for enhanced bilateral cooperation.
“The Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, now at 99 percent of completion, is a symbol of the successful partnership between our countries. This should serve as a foundation for further cooperation in areas such as water management and infrastructure development,” he stated.
He further encouraged Tanzanian businesses to explore investment opportunities in Egypt and forge partnerships with Egyptian firms to drive economic growth and strengthen international trade relations.
Mr Abdelatty called on Tanzanian entrepreneurs to expand their engagements in technology, fertiliser trade, and fisheries, particularly leveraging the Nile River’s potential.
He commended Tanzania’s efforts in improving its investment and business environment, noting that these measures had significantly contributed to strengthening diplomatic and economic ties.
As part of his official visit, Mr Abdelatty is also scheduled to tour the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project in Rufiji, Coast Region.
