TANZANIA and European Union (EU) have resolved to strengthen their partnership with a key focus on accelerating infrastructure development by fast-tracking the completion of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects and the modern railway by 2030.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo and the Director General for International Partnerships of the European Commission (EU), Mr Koen Doens, reaffirmed their commitment during their meeting on the sidelines of the Mattei Plan for Africa and ‘EU Global Gateway’ meeting held recently in Rome, Italy.
The two leaders also discussed collaboration on rehabilitating old infrastructure, particularly bridges, where Minister Kombo urged the ‘EU Global Gateway’ initiative to explore the possibility of investing in the projects.
They also highlighted cooperation in digital technologies and the cashew sector, with the minister emphasising that Tanzanian cashew nuts are among the highest-quality crops.
Minister Kombo further underscored the importance of collaboration in the blue economy, an area where the government has introduced tax exemptions on the importation of fishing equipment.
Furthermore, he emphasised strengthening trade partnerships between private companies, the private sector and the government, as well as government-to-government relations.
He also invited EU stakeholders to visit Tanzania to better understand its market and investment opportunities.
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For his part, Mr Doens said that the EU is ready to support the development of the value chain by connecting the private sector with financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank (EIB) to mitigate investment risks.
Both sides have agreed to meet again at the upcoming ‘EU Global Gateway’ Forum in Brussels to continue discussions on priority areas of cooperation.
On Thursday, Italy and the European Union con- vened a high-level event in Rome to strengthen collaboration with African nations.
The meeting spotlighted two complementary initiatives- Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa and the EU’s Global Gateway.
The event was aimed to align Rome and Brussels’ efforts in offering tailored partnerships that address Africa’s specific needs, positioning the continent as a central partner in Europe’s economic and geopolitical future.
The gathering, attended by over 400 senior officials and private sector leaders, emphasised tailored partnerships in key sectors such as energy and infrastructure.
During the meeting, Minister Kombo proposed that the anticipated robust railway connection from Lobito, Angola, to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania be named Lobito-Dar Corridor, saying it is potential to seamlessly connect the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
