India and Tanzania have taken substantial steps to strengthen their diplomatic ties, marking a significant milestone in their relationship. This strategic partnership was announced following extensive discussions between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
At the end of talks key agreements across varied sectors, including digital affairs, maritime industries, white shipping information sharing, culture, and sports were inked.
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Prime Minister Modi underscored the mutual commitment to fostering trade in local currencies, underscoring the pivotal role that India and Tanzania play as significant trade and investment partners. And characterized this development as a historic moment in the longstanding camaraderie between the two nations.
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In the field of defence, the two countries have agreed on a five-year roadmap. PM Modi added it will add new dimensions to cooperation in areas like military training, maritime sphere and defence industries.
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He also noted that India and Tanzania were “unanimous” that terrorism is the “most serious security threat to humanity”. “We have decided to increase mutual cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism,” he said. And called Tanzania an important partner in the Indo-Pacific.
In the realm of defence, both leaders have jointly charted a comprehensive five-year roadmap, with the intent to augment cooperation in various domains. This roadmap encompasses military training, maritime activities, and the expansion of defence industries. Both leaders also echoed their shared concern about terrorism, recognizing it as a formidable security threat and expressing their collective resolve to bolster collaboration in counter-terrorism endeavours.
The visit of President Samia Suluhu Hassan commenced with a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, signifying the start of her four-day visit to India.
Following the signing of agreements, the visiting leader President Hassan conveyed optimism regarding trends in trade and investment. India currently holds the esteemed position of being Tanzania’s third-largest trading partner and the fifth-largest investor in the nation.
She further highlighted the historical ties binding Tanzania and India, drawing attention to a significant historical episode when Mahatma Gandhi made a stop in Zanzibar en route to South Africa. This visit underpins the enduring and profound friendship between the two nations. She expressed heartfelt gratitude for India’s steadfast support across various sectors and applauded the inauguration of the IIT Madras campus in Tanzania as a remarkable honour.
Both leaders reiterated their shared commitment to fortifying bilateral cooperation, with President Hassan confirming Tanzania’s enthusiastic participation in the forthcoming India-Africa Summit. Tanzania stands ready to actively contribute to the success of this important summit.
President Hassan extended Tanzania’s involvement in significant Indian initiatives, notably the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) and the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA). In a crucial move, India has pledged an additional 1,000 Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) slots to Tanzania, focusing on key areas such as smart ports, space exploration, biotechnology, and more, spanning a five-year horizon.
Furthermore, the number of ICCR scholarships earmarked for Tanzanian students pursuing higher education in India will be increased from 70 to 85 annually. Tanzania has expressed unwavering support for India’s aspiration to secure non-permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the year 2028.
In addition to these commitments, both countries have made concrete strides in strengthening their partnership. They have initiated a policy planning dialogue between their respective foreign ministries and sealed numerous Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to deepen collaboration. These agreements span a wide range of areas, including digital solutions, white shipping information sharing, cultural exchanges, sports, the establishment of an industrial park, and the maritime industry.
At the end of talks between the two leaders, at a special briefing, Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (ER) Dammu Ravi said, “India-Tanzania relations have registered good progress in recent times which is why today’s visit is very significant that both sides have agreed to elevate the relationship to that of a strategic partnership.”
He said the two countries are actively exploring new avenues for cooperation. These include exploring the possibility of trade conducted in local currencies and contemplating the establishment of an Indian industrial park in Tanzania, which would also provide vocational training facilities for Tanzanian youth.
