Dar es Salaam. The European Union Delegation to Tanzania is planning to jointly organise the EU-Tanzania Business Forum with the government of the East African nation in a move aimed at allowing investors from the EU to come and explore the opportunities available in Tanzania.
The two-day event will take place from February 23 to February 24, 2023, in Dar es Salaam and will be inaugurated by President Samia Suluhu Hassan and closed by Zanzibar President Hussein Mwinyi.
Speaking to reporters at his residence in Masaki, Dar es Salaam on Monday, EU Ambassador to Tanzania Manfredo Fanti said that the event aims to present Tanzania’s opportunities and comparative advantage as a strategic destination for direct investments.
“This event is a part of the comprehensive relations between the European Union and Tanzania, which is very long-lasting,” Mr Fanti said during a press briefing on Monday.
“[EU and Tanzania] are first of all political partners [which] have a continuous dialogue on international issues of common interest but also we have very deep and rooted cooperation on economic development,” he added.
Mr Fanti pointed out that the EU is the biggest donor to Tanzania in terms of contributions to the government plans towards sustainable development.
“The EU-Tanzania Business Forum is therefore taking place in this context,” the envoy clarified.
“It is an action that we want to do because we firmly believe that there is a strong potential for Tanzania to receive more investments from Europe and to also develop its trade with the EU thanks to a partnership with European companies,” he added.
The forum seeks to bring together potential investors from Europe, Tanzania’s businesses, the government and the EU member states in order to put all together, reflect on different opportunities on the ongoing reforms in Tanzania and create connections between enterprises.
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Mr Fanti said the EU firmly believe that this is the key to sustainable development in future because it is only through investments that Tanzania can realize its sustainable development goals.
Taking place under the theme Tap into Tanzania’s Investment Opportunities, the event will focus on investment opportunities, business setup procedures and local partnerships, business environment (policy and regulatory frameworks) as well as sector-specific sessions.
The Director of Research, Planning and Information Systems at the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) Mr Mafutah D. Bunini called the event “a very important event” for the development of Tanzania, urging Tanzania’s businesses to actively take part in the forum.
“I’m calling on Tanzanian companies to participate fully in the forum and plan to use this opportunity to establish partnerships with EU companies,” Mr Bunini said during a press conference.
“According to the available information, more than 400 EU companies are expected to take part in the forum,” he added. “This is an opportunity for Tanzania’s businesses, especially those working in sectors like agriculture, mining, manufacturing and even the ICTs.”
Responding to a question about why is the forum taking place now, the Head of Governance (Economic Section) at the EU Embassy in Tanzania Ms Karina Dzialowska said it is because now is good momentum on both sides, the EU and Tanzania.
“In Tanzania, there is this big push from the government to attract investments and businesses to the country and we think this is particularly a good momentum for any kind of investor to come and profit from this particular moment,” Ms Dzialowska said.
“On the European side, we have a newly approved European initiative, Global Gateway, which aims at promoting sustainable investment and also infrastructure investment globally,” she added.
