Good economic relations for over 40 years now Tanzania, Kuwait enjoy excellent bilateral relations
Unity and Development
26th April is the historical day when the People of Tanganyika led by Mwalimu Julius Nyerere (Then President of Tanganyika) and the People of Zanzibar led by Sheikh Abeid Karume (Then President of Zanzibar) decided to unite their independent countries to form a new nation, known as The United Republic of Tanzania.
It was indeed a heroic accomplishment brought by the two leaders (Champions of the Union) and an act of rejection of the glorification of nationstate inherited from colonialism. Currently Tanzania is a democratic country of about 60 Million people with total land of 945,087kmsq.
In 58 years of union, Tanzania has come a long way. Today Tanzania is a developing country with lower middleincome economy. It has made great gains in areas such as infrastructures development, health care, education as well as ease of doing business. Also, Tanzania is acknowledged as a model of constructing a national unity from ethnic diversity with Swahili Language as symbol and identity of unity.
However, great success is the crown of great leadership. We say in Swahili ‘Usione vinaelea, vimeundwa’. All the mentioned ideal achievement is owing to the leadership of all past Tanzania presidents including the Founding Father Mwalimu Nyerere and now President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the first woman president ever.
The Land of Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Zanzibar
Tanzania is the home of top three natural wonder of Africa. The Serengeti National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro (Roof of Africa) and the beautiful island of Zanzibar, which is a beautiful archipelago on the shores of Indian Ocean with its rich Swahili and Arab cultures makes Tanzania as the best tourist destination in the world for game safari and holiday experiences. Tanzania is ready to have you to get unforgettable experiences.
While celebrating the 58th Anniversary of Tanzania National Day, the sixty phases of the Government under the wise leadership of the president Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan mark a period of one year.
President Samia Suluhu Hassani was sworn in on March 19, 2021 as the United Republic of Tanzania’s sixth, and first woman President, following the death of President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli on March 17, 2021. President Samia Suluhu Hassan was the Vice President of the Fifth-Phase Government from October 2015. The new Sixth Phase administration has adjusted its policies and programs to reflect an evolving social and economic context, but the broad policy objectives remain guided by the Tanzania Development Vision 2025 and its supporting five -year development plans.
Currently, the Government is prioritizing implementation of a new strategy to contain the COVID-19 Pandemic, and in July 2021 it started implementing the COVID-19 National Vaccine
Development Plan. Since the launch of vaccination program in August, 2021 through December 27, 2021 a total of 2,431,769 vaccine doses had been administered. The Government also resumed reporting COVID-19 data to the World Health Organization and enhancing accountability within the civil service continues to be a focus.
Moreover, the government is proactively engaging with multilateral and bilateral partners in the region and worldwide; and it has reaffirmed the private sector as the engine of economic growth by addressing major constraints on private investment.
Economic activities in Tanzania gradually recovering in the third quarter of 2021 while growth is expected to strengthen over the next two years assuming pandemic conditions case and the external environment improves. The real Government Development Program growth rate is projected to reach 4.5 – 5.5 percent in 2022 and average about 6 percent over the medium term as exports and domestic demand recover while risks to Tanzania’s economic outlook have moderated.
The evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and the pace of vaccination both globally and domestically is the most crucial factors during Tanzania’s economic outlook. On the similar note, an accelerated vaccination programme increased regional trade and cooperation and policy reform designed to improve the business environment and support the growth of the private sector have somewhat mitigated downside risks.
Following two decades of sustained growth, Tanzania reached on important milestone in July, 2020 when it formally graduated from law income country to lower-middle income country status. This achievement reflects sustained macroeconomic stability that has supported in addition to the county’s rich natural endowment and strategic geographic position.
Tanzania and Kuwait Relations
The relations between the United Republic of Tanzania and the State of Kuwait have had historic perspective from the early 20th century where merchants from Kuwait engaged in trade in both Zanzibar and Tanganyika (now Mainland Tanzania). Those merchants traded in timber and mangrove trees from Rufiji, Mafia and Kilwa for house construction.
Tanzania and Kuwait enjoy cordial and excellent bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2015 when both countries opened their respective Embassies in Dar es salaam and Kuwait City.
Tanzania and Kuwait have been enjoying mutual cooperation in political, economic, trade and cultural fields and keep similar views on many regional and international issues of common concerns. The friendship and trust between the two countries have been further enhanced. Furthermore, bilateral cooperation in all fields at all levels has made great headway; and the bilateral consultative and cooperative mechanism has been run smoothly.
Tanzania and Kuwait have had good economic relations for over forty (40) years now. The State of Kuwait is one among trustful development partner and it has been financing various development projects in Tanzania through the Kuwait Development Fund (Kuwait Fund) since 1975. Since 1975 till 2020 Kuwait Government has approved a concession loan worth two hundred and sixty-eight million USD (USD 268 million) for a total of 14 development projects in Tanzania.
On the bilateral agreement Tanzania and the State of Kuwait have signed the following contracted agreements:
A Joint Permanent Commission in May, 2013;
Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Consultations in July, 2013;
Partnership Agreement in the Tourism Industry in November, 2013;
Investment Promotion Agreement, the implementation which was signed in November, 2013;
Bilateral Air Service Agreement between the United Republic of Tanzania and the State of Kuwait in March, 2016.
There are tremendous opportunities and potentials for further promote and development between Tanzania and Kuwait in the areas of tourism, culture, investment, trade and so on.
The implementation of the development projects and signed bilateral agreements is the clear confirmation of a very dynamic relationship between the United Republic of Tanzania and the State of Kuwait.
On the above milestone of economic and bilateral objective, Tanzania has cherished a dream of building a happy and prosperous country along with attaining an economic emancipation. On the similar note, the Tanzania Embassy in the State of Kuwait humbly appeals to the potential investors and business community from Kuwait to direct their capital to the United Republic of Tanzania as they will never regret.