Business harmonisation key to EA trade growth

DAR ES SALAAM: HARMONISING the private sectors of Tanzania and Kenya through joint projects and a unified commercial framework is central to unlocking new investment opportunities and accelerating bilateral trade growth, businessman Rostam Aziz has said.

Speaking at the Tanzania–Kenya Business Forum held on Monday in Dar es Salaam during the state visit of Kenyan President William Ruto, Mr Aziz called for stronger public-private partnerships to deepen economic linkages and expand access to global markets through coordinated business systems.

“Let us harmonise the private sectors of our two countries through joint projects, and unlock potential opportunities for mutual benefit and expand access to global markets,” he said.

Mr Aziz, who is the Chairman of Taifa Gas Group, noted that the private sector remains central to capital mobilisation, market expansion and strengthening manufacturing capacity across the two economies.

“We should now emphasise PublicPrivate Partnerships (PPP) to build a unified commercial system that will pave the way for attracting large-scale investments between Kenya and Tanzania,” he said.

He made the remarks during a panel discussion on the role of the private sector in unlocking economic potential and improving performance at the forum, which was attended by President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her counterpart Ruto.

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In recent years, trade between Tanzania and Kenya has reached billions of dollars annually, supported by infrastructure improvements such as upgraded road networks, modernised border posts and enhanced port facilities.

The introduction of one-stop border posts, particularly at Namanga and Holili/Taveta, has reduced delays and improved efficiency, making cross-border trade faster and more predictable.

Despite this progress, challenges persist. Periodic trade disputes, regulatory differences and non-tariff barriers have at times disrupted the smooth flow of goods. However, ongoing dialogue within the East African Community (EAC) framework continues to address these issues and strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.

Looking ahead, the outlook for Dodoma-Nairobi trade remains positive. Continued investment in infrastructure, harmonisation of trade policies and the expansion of emerging sectors such as digital trade and services are expected to deepen economic ties and enhance regional competitiveness.

Bilateral trade has already surpassed 1.0 billion US dollars, underlining the strategic importance of Kenya and Tanzania as key drivers of East Africa’s economic landscape.

Taifa Gas Group was the main sponsor of the Tanzania–Kenya Business Forum, which brought together business leaders and stakeholders from both countries to discuss the role of the private sector in fostering trade and advancing economic cooperation and integration.