Luanda. Tanzanian and Angolan leaders have committed to scaling up trade and investment cooperation, leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and regional blocs such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The renewed partnership, underscored by President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her Angolan counterpart, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço on April 8, 2025 aims to unlock economic opportunities in agriculture, tourism, industry, and the blue economy.
The two leaders held bilateral talks during President Samia’s three-day official visit to Angola.
Speaking during a joint media briefing at the Presidential Palace, after the talks, President Samia announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) and Angola’s Agency for Private Investment and Promotion of Exports (AIPEX).
The agreement is expected to facilitate a more structured and predictable investment environment between the two countries.
“With the wealth of opportunities that exist in both Tanzania and Angola—in agriculture, tourism, industry, and the blue economy—we are now determined to enhance our cooperation in trade and investment,” she said.
President Samia stressed the importance of taking full advantage of existing frameworks such as SADC and AfCFTA, noting that the two countries are well-placed to benefit from the free movement of goods, services, and capital enabled by these platforms.
“We want to encourage our business communities to utilise the opportunities presented under these regional trade agreements so that we can sustain and expand the current momentum,” she added.
Echoing the same sentiments, President Lourenço observed that while Angola and Tanzania share historical and political bonds, it was time to deepen that relationship through robust economic engagement.
“Friendship alone is not sufficient. We must consolidate it with tangible socio-economic development that directly benefits our people,” he said.
Lobito corridor
One of the highlights of their discussions was the Lobito Corridor, a strategic infrastructure project aimed at linking the Atlantic Ocean with the Indian Ocean.
President Lourenço described the corridor as a key transcontinental route that will enhance Africa’s connectivity to global markets, thereby reducing the cost and duration of exporting goods across continents.
The initiative has the potential to connect Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas by reducing logistical bottlenecks and boosting competitiveness.
President Samia welcomed Angola’s ambition with the Lobito Corridor, saying the project could play a transformative role in strengthening regional trade and transport systems, with wider benefits for East and Southern Africa.
Meanwhile, Tanzania has announced that it will waive tourist visa requirements for Angolan citizens, a decision aimed at boosting tourism and fostering people-to-people ties.
“Tanzania has officially reciprocated the visa exemption extended to its citizens by Angola. This decision will ease travel, promote tourism, and open up new investment frontiers,” President Samia said.
President Lourenço applauded the development, noting that visa-free travel would help nurture stronger connections among the citizens of both nations.
Angola backs Janabi
In a reciprocal gesture, President Lourenço affirmed Angola’s backing of Tanzania’s candidate, Prof Mohamed Janabi, for the position of WHO African Region Director.
President Samia expressed gratitude for the support, terming it a symbol of growing solidarity between the two nations.
President Samia’s official visit started with a tribute to the country’s founding father, the late António Agostinho Neto.
At a solemn ceremony held at the Public Square in Luanda, she laid a wreath at the memorial tower honouring the late leader.
She later addressed a special session of Angola’s National Assembly before engaging in formal talks with President Lourenço at the Presidential Palace.
The visit concluded with the joint press briefing, where both leaders reaffirmed their resolve to chart a new chapter of economic cooperation anchored in mutual respect, shared values, and a common vision for Africa’s future.
