Bilateral trade between India and Tanzania surged to $9.02 billion in 2025-26 from $8.64 billion in the previous fiscal year. The fifth session of the India-Tanzania Joint Trade Committee in Dar es Salaam focused on enhancing trade settlement in local currencies and easing visa procedures for Indian businesspersons. Discussions also covered regulatory cooperation in pharmaceuticals and capacity building in various sectors like health, education, and shipbuilding.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and Dr. Samwel William Shelukindo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of Tanzania, co-chaired the meeting. The Joint Trade Committee was emphasized as a crucial platform for dialogue on trade and investment matters, aiming to foster mutually beneficial economic ties. The discussions included collaboration in the mining sector, education, and skills development, with a focus on enhancing cooperation in the MSME sector and exploring new partnerships.
The meeting highlighted the significance of IIT Madras Zanzibar as a growing hub for higher education in science and technology. Areas like vocational training, industrial research, innovation, and sustainable technologies were identified as promising avenues for cooperation. The review of digital cooperation focused on existing MoUs, particularly on digital public infrastructure like India Stack.
India showcased its expertise in shipbuilding and emphasized potential partnerships with Tanzanian institutions in shipyard development and port infrastructure. The country’s development cooperation through Lines of Credit exceeding $1.1 billion for water infrastructure projects in Tanzania was underscored. The collaboration aims to benefit over 6 million people across 24 towns through improved water supply networks and infrastructure development.
The importance of fisheries and marine resources in supporting economic growth and food security was highlighted. The discussions also emphasized deeper involvement in healthcare and medicine, with a focus on capacity building in fields like oncology and exchange programs for medical professionals. Cooperation in renewable energy, natural gas, biofuels, and power infrastructure was also on the agenda.
A delegation of Indian businesspersons, led by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), participated in the India-Tanzania Joint Business Meet. The Commerce Secretary commended the growing trade partnership between the two nations and the increasing synergy between their markets. The event saw the participation of prominent Indian and Tanzanian business representatives.
