Renson Mwakandana
During a trip to Tanzania on Thursday as part of an African tour to fortify connections with a continent where the power of China and Russia is growing, US Vice President Kamala Harris announced intentions to increase commerce with and investment in Tanzania.
The visit started on Sunday in Ghana, and on Wednesday night, she took a flight to the commercial hub of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, where she met with President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday. Before engaging in a lengthy round of private conversations, the two ladies made brief comments to the media.
Harris listed a variety of projects after meeting with Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu and added, “Working together, it is our shared goal to increase economic investment in Tanzania and strengthen our economic ties.”
“These included an updated Memorandum of Understanding between the Tanzanian government and the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM).”
With this, American businesses will be able to export goods and services to Tanzania in the infrastructure, transportation, digital technology, climate and energy security, and power production sectors, and get up to $500 million in funding in the process.
Harris also noted a new relationship in cybersecurity and 5G technologies, as well as Life Zone Metals’ plans to build a new processing facility in Tanzania for the minerals used in electric car batteries.
“This project is an important and pioneering model, using innovative and low-emission standards. Importantly, raw minerals will soon be processed in Tanzania, by Tanzanians,” she added, noting that starting in 2026, the factory would supply battery-grade nickel to the US and the rest of the world.
China has made significant investments in Africa over the past two decades, and Hassan recently had a state visit to Beijing where he met President Xi Jinping.
The leaders agreed to elevate two-way commerce and significantly boost the trade volume and China said it will consider opening its market to additional Tanzanian products. Trade and investment occupied a significant portion of their agenda.
