Tanzania and Iran signed seven Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) for cooperation in various sectors during the fifth Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) meeting, held at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC).
Speaking on October 17, 2024, Tanzania’s Director of the Department of Middle East Affairs, Abdallah Kilima, noted that the meeting occurred sixteen years after a similar JPC was held in Tehran, Iran. Kilima highlighted key areas of priority for Tanzania during the discussions, including investment, energy, oil and gas, technology, as well as security and defense.
On Saturday, October 19, 2024, Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, emphasized that economic diplomacy was the primary focus of the meeting. He also mentioned that President Samia’s government has worked to facilitate smoother interactions between the two countries in various sectors.
READ: Tanzania Will Spend Sh17.6b Monthly in Servicing Its Sh1.48t Debt with Iran
“The Iranian Minister of Agriculture, Golamreza Nouri Ghezelcheh, has come to Tanzania with a delegation of 40 government officials and 40 private sector representatives,” Ambassador Kombo said.
“We have come to discuss issues related to agriculture, fishing, and business. Among the Iranian businessmen, two are particularly significant and are expecting to invest between 40 million to 70 million dollars in Tanzania,” he added.
Our 2022 analysis shows that Tanzania owes a total of Sh1.48 trillion to the Islamic Republic, making Iran the country with the highest outstanding debt to Tanzania. This debt has accumulated over several years without being serviced. The credit dates back to the late 1970s and early 1980s when Tanzania struck a deal with Iran for the importation of oil on credit.
Due to challenges in the Middle East and sanctions, Iran has ramped up its diplomatic efforts globally. Tanzania, with its non-alignment policy and influence in sub-Saharan Africa, serves as a strategically important country for Iran.
Oil could be a key opportunity for Tanzania in its cooperation with Iran, though it remains unclear whether the ongoing sanctions will allow this to become a viable area for collaboration.
The growing ties between the two countries have led Tanzania to consider opening an embassy in Tehran. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Mbarouk Nassor Mbarouk informed Parliament on September 12, 2023, that the government is already assessing this possibility.
