Dodoma. The Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) has announced a partnership with the Egyptian firm Al Shahbandar to strengthen and expand the nation’s seed sector.
The commitment follows deliberations held at TARI’s headquarters in Dodoma on February 9, 2026.
During the session, TARI director general, Dr Thomas Bwana, noted that the synergy between the two organisations is rooted in shared visions, collective experience, and the presence of established corporate structures ready for strategic investment.
To ensure the partnership moves beyond dialogue into tangible results, Dr Bwana proposed the immediate formation of a joint task force comprising experts from both TARI and Al Shahbandar to coordinate and oversee the implementation of their shared objectives.
The chief executive officer of Al Shahbandar, Mr Khaled Ahmed Fayez, expressed a strong desire to build a robust working relationship with TARI, emphasising that unifying their efforts is essential for the advancement of the agricultural sectors in both nations.
Mr Fayez stated that what brings the two countries together is not merely history, but a shared socio-economic reality, noting that agriculture remains the backbone of their economies and supports approximately 67 per cent of their citizens’ livelihoods.
The meeting featured a distinguished delegation from both sides.
Representing Al Shahbandar were Dr Hossam Awad, Consultant for Communications and Business Development, as well as Seed Research Consultants Dr Abdulnabi Diabi and Dr Mohamed Alghunemi.
The TARI delegation included Dr Sophia Kashenge, director of Technology Transfer and Partnership, Dr Deusdedith Mbanzibwa, director of Research and Innovation, Dr Amachus James, director of the TARI Makutopora Centre, and Senior Researcher Dr Atugonza Bilaro, alongside other researchers from the headquarters and the Makutopora facility.
The visit concluded with the Al Shahbandar delegation touring TARI’s grape plantations.
The Egyptian experts were given a firsthand look at ongoing research initiatives and the various processes involved in grape value addition, highlighting Tanzania’s potential to move from raw production to high-quality processed agricultural goods.
