Angola offers new market opportunities for Tanzania

TANZANIA: THE anticipated visit of Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço is expected to open new opportunities for Tanzania to expand trade, attract investment and create jobs as the two countries seek to translate longstanding diplomatic relations into tangible economic benefits.

President Lourenço  is expected to visit Tanzania from tomorrow to Friday, for a working visit that could strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and deepen collaboration in strategic sectors, including energy, agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure.

Economist and investment banker Dr Hildebrand Shayo said Tanzania should use the visit to advance economic diplomacy by establishing partnerships that promote trade, attract investment and accelerate industrial development.

He said the engagement presented an opportunity to attract Angolan capital, expand bilateral trade and draw lessons from Angola’s experience in oil and gas production, while promoting value addition and employment creation.

“For Tanzania, the value of the visit will not be measured only by official receptions and leaders’ meetings, but by agreements implemented, investment attracted, increased trade and benefits reaching citizens and the private sector,” Dr Shayo said.

He added that the two countries should identify areas where their economic strengths complement each other, enabling businesses to access new markets, establish partnerships and develop commercially viable investment projects.

Closer economic ties, Dr Shayo said, could expand markets for Tanzanian products, attract capital into productive sectors and create opportunities for private sector growth.

Political analyst Yonah Mapury said the visit could build on the countries’ historical ties by strengthening economic relations and opening new opportunities for traders, farmers and manufacturers.

He identified agricultural produce from Tanzania’s Southern Highlands, particularly Mbeya, Iringa and Songwe regions, as having potential markets in Angola and other Southern African countries.

Mr Mapury said stronger diplomatic engagement could also help address obstacles to cross-border trade, including concerns raised by traders over barriers at border points and other trade facilitation challenges.

He noted that improved market access would enable Tanzanian producers to reach more customers, expand their businesses and contribute to economic growth.

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Beyond commerce, Mr Mapury said Tanzania and Angola shared a longstanding history of political and security cooperation, including efforts to promote regional peace and stability.

He said Tanzania’s historical support for liberation movements in Southern Africa, including those that fought for Angola’s independence, provided a strong foundation for expanding cooperation into trade, investment and other areas of mutual interest.

A lecturer at the Dr Salim Ahmed Salim Centre for Foreign Relations, Mr Innocent Shoo, said the visit should go beyond diplomatic ceremonies and deliver practical outcomes that support sustainable economic development.

He said Angola’s petroleum resources, mineral wealth and access to the Atlantic Ocean complemented Tanzania’s agricultural potential, mineral resources, transport networks and strategic position linking East, Central and Southern Africa.

“These complementary strengths create opportunities for cooperation in energy, agriculture, mineral processing, manufacturing, tourism, logistics and infrastructure,” he said.

Mr Shoo urged Tanzania to pursue a balanced partnership that attracts Angolan investment while supporting Tanzanian companies seeking to export goods, establish businesses and form joint ventures in Angola.

He also highlighted the potential for stronger transport and logistics links, saying improved connectivity and trade facilitation could reduce the cost and time required to move goods between the two markets.

In the energy sector, Mr Shoo said Angola’s experience in petroleum production and managing an oil-dependent economy could offer valuable lessons as Tanzania develops its natural gas resources.

He identified technical training, engineering services, local content development and natural-resource processing as potential areas for cooperation.

The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for the two countries to explore practical measures to strengthen commercial relations, improve market access and turn their longstanding diplomatic partnership into wider economic opportunities for businesses and citizens.