India – Tanzania Relations
Tanzania and India have traditionally enjoyed close, friendly and co-operative relations. From the 1960s to the 1980s the political relationship was driven largely by shared ideological commitments to anti-colonialism, anti-racism, socialism in various forms as well as desire for South-South Cooperation. Former President Julius Nyerere was held in high esteem in India; He was conferred the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding for 1974, and the International Gandhi Peace Prize for 1995. India and Tanzania worked closely together in international fora. In the post-Cold War readjustment of policies, India and Tanzania both initiated economic reform programmes around the same time with external relations aimed at broader international political and economic engagement, cultivation of international business relationships and promotion of foreign investment. In recent years Indo-Tanzanian ties have evolved into a modern and pragmatic relationship with greater and diversified economic engagement and development partnership with India offering Tanzania more capacity building training opportunities, concessional LOCs and grants. The High Commission of India in Dar es Salaam was set up on November 19, 1961 and the Consulate General of India in Zanzibar was set up on October 23, 1974.
State Visit of the Tanzanian President to India
The President of Tanzania Mr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete paid a State Visit to India from 17-20 June 2015, the first leader from Continental Africa received by the new government on a State Visit. He had visited India earlier to co-chair the India-Africa Forum Summit (April 2008), and as the then Foreign Minister (May 2001). During the visit, President Kikwete held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and met President and Vice President. External Affairs Minister, Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Minister for Health and Family Welfare called on President Kikwete. On the sidelines of the visit, the first India-Tanzania Business and Investment Forum meeting was held in New Delhi at which the President sought more investment from India and assured full assistance and security to investors. During the visit, the following MOUs/agreements were signed:
• MOU between the East Africa Statistical Training Center (EASTC) in Tanzania and the National Statistical System Training Academy in India on establishing a collaborative program in official statistics.
• MOU between EASTC and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute.
• MOU on Cooperation in the field of Tourism.
• Loan Agreement between Exim Bank and Government of Tanzania on LOC for US$ 268.35 million for extension of Lake Victoria pipeline project.
• Agreement between WAPCOS (PSU under M/o Water) and Government of Tanzania for preparation of DPR for Lake Victoria pipeline project.
• MOU for Cooperation in the field of Hydrog Protocol on exchange of Hydrographic Data.
The President visited a tractor plant at Noida and the Incubation Center of the NSIC at New Delhi. It was decided to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism and India’s e-Tourism Visa scheme was extended to Tanzania.
High-Level Visits
The two countries have enjoyed a tradition of high level exchanges. In the post-Neyerere period, high level visits from India included those by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh (May 2011), former President Shri APJ Abdul Kalam (Sept 2004), and former Prime Minister Shri I.K. Gujral (Sept 1997). Former Speaker of Lok Sabha Smt. Meira Kumar visited Tanzania in Sept/Oct 2009 and former External Affairs Minister Shri Yashwant Sinha visited in April 2003. Other Ministerial visits included those by MOS for Commerce and Industry (Sept 2013), Minister of State for External Affairs (July 2013 and Aug 2003), Minister of Steel (April 2013), Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences (Dec 2011), and Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs (Jan 2010).
From Tanzania, high level visits were made by President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (June 2015 and April 2008), Dr. Ali Mohammed Shein, President of Zanzibar (Feb 2014), Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda (Sept 2009), Vice President Ali Mohamed Shein, (March 2008), Mr. Amani Abeid Karume, President of Zanzibar (March 2004), and President Benjamin Mkapa (Dec 2002). Ministerial visits included those by Minister of Trade and Industry (Nov 2014), Minister for Water (July 2014), Minister for Energy and Minerals (Jan 2014), Zanzibar Minister for Labour, Economic Empowerment & Cooperatives (May 2013), Minister of Communication Science & Technology (March 2013), Minister of Health and Social Welfare (March 2013), Dy. Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives (March 2013), Minister of Industry and Trade (Jan 2013), Minister of Industry & Trade (Oct/Nov 2012), Speaker of the National Assembly (Oct 2012), Minister of Defence and National Service (March/April 2012), Minister for Finance (March 2012), Minister for East African Cooperation (Nov 2011), Minister of Communication Science and Technology (Oct 2011), Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs (March 2011), Minister for Investment and Empowerment (March 2011), Minister for Energy and Minerals (Dec 2009), Minister for Health and Family Welfare (Jan 2009), Minister for Industry and Trade (May 2007), and Minister for Information and Culture (Jan 2007). Besides, several Tanzanian dignitaries have also visited India in connection with international meetings/conferences, for medical treatment and for personal reasons.
Bilateral Treaties & Agreements
In addition to the MOUs/agreements signed during the State Visit of President Kikwete (June 2015), India and Tanzania have signed a number of bilateral Treaties/MOUs/Agreements. They are:
• Agreement on Friendship & Technical, Economic and Scientific Cooperation (1966)
• Trade Agreements (1972)
• MOU on Technical Cooperation in the field of Posts and Telecommunications (1996)
• Agreement on the establishment of Joint Business Council (1997)
• Agreement on establishment of a Joint Trade Committee (2000)
• MOU for Co-operation in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors (2002)
• Agreement in the field of Health & Medicine (2002)
• MoU on Exchange Programme on Co-operation in the field of Education (2003)
• MOU on Defence Cooperation (2003)
• Agreement on Waiving Tanzania’s Outstanding Loans (2004)
• Agreement on Cooperation in Information Technology and Services (2004)
• Letter of Intent on PTA/FTA (2008)
• MOU on JV between National Social Security Fund, Tanzania, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Apollo Hospitals Ltd. (2011) 3
• Agreement on Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion (2011). Earlier DTAA was signed in 1979.
• Joint Action Plan between National Small Industries Corporation Ltd and Small Industries Development Organisation (2011)
• Letter of Intent between Ministry of Steel and Ministry of Energy & Minerals (2013)
Commercial and Economic Relations
India and Tanzania have a vibrant business and commercial relationship driven by the presence of a large community of Tanzanians of Indian origin. India is a leading trading and investment partner of Tanzania’s as well as an important source of petroleum products, essential machinery and pharmaceutical products. Many of the top business establishments of Tanzania are owned by persons of Indian origin.
India has been one of Tanzania’s largest trade partners as per the figures given below:
India-Tanzania Trade [in million US dollars]
| Year | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 |
| India’s exports | 2467.14 | 2308.71 | 880.63 | 1564.95 | 895.01 | 772.87 |
| Tanzania’s exports | 1293 | 752.17 | 480.1 | 207.99 | 226.19 | 187.58 |
| Total | 3760.14 3 | 3060.88 | 1360.73 | 1772.94 | 1121.2 | 960.45 |
[Source: Tanzania Revenue Authority]
According to Department of Commerce data, total bilateral trade with Tanzania was US$3573.63 million during 2014-15, of which exports to Tanzania constituted US$2484.60 million and imports from Tanzania was US$1089.03 million. Significantly, Tanzanian exports to India which were stagnating at around $187 million annually in 2009 have jumped to over $ 1293 million in 2014 according to TRA data. Tanzania’s major imports from India include petroleum products, medicines and pharmaceuticals items, motor vehicles, two and three-wheelers, wires and cables, sugar, electrical machinery/ equipment, yarn, apparel & clothing, articles of iron & steel, plastic products including synthetic polymers, inorganic/organic/agro-chemicals, rubber items including tyres, cotton fabrics, etc. Tanzania’s major exports to India include gold, cashew nuts, pulses, timber, spices (mainly cloves), ores and metal scrap, gemstones, tanning/dyeing and coloring materials, non-ferrous metals, essential oils, leather, silver, etc
India’s economic engagement with Tanzania has also increased with a cumulative investment of US$ 2000.04 million [1990-2014] which is supporting employment of over 54,176 persons in 426 projects, as per Tanzanian official sources. India is at third position after the UK and China. Additionally, Indian firms have invested over $ 497 million in EPZs across the country, taking the total investments to about $2497 million. Tanzanian investments in India are a little over US$ 1 million as per DIPP. However, recently a Tanzanian company claims to have invested US$200 million in pulses processing plants set up in Gujarat and Kolkata. Major Indian companies and brands operating in Tanzania include Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Tata International Limited, National Mineral Development Corporation Limited, insurance companies (LIC, NIC, United India, etc), Reliance Industries Ltd, Kamal Group of Industries, Bharti Airtel, Tata [trucks, buses and SUVs], Escorts [tractors], Ashok Leyland [trucks and other vehicles], Eicher [buses and trucks], Bajaj [three wheelers], TVS [three wheelers], Kirloskar engines and Godrej safes. About 4 42% of medicines and pharma products imported by Tanzania are sourced from India. All major Indian pharma companies have their distributors and representatives here.
Development Partnership
During the State Visit of the President of Tanzania (June 2015), a Loan agreement between Exim Bank and Tanzania on LOC for US$ 268.35 million for extension of Lake Victoria pipeline project to Tabora, Igunga and Nzega was signed. An IT Resource Centre at Arusha, an NSIC project for establishing Incubation Centres at SIDO, and a Vocational Training Centre (VTC) at Zanzibar are being funded under GoI grants. An LoC of US$ 178.125 million for development of water supply projects in Dar-es-Salaam and coastal Chalinze region is currently under implementation. Another LoC of US$ 36.56 million for supply of Ashok Leyland trucks and other vehicles to the Tanzanian People’s Defence Force (TPDF) was completed in 2013-14. A June 2009 LoC of US$ 40 million for supply of tractors and agricultural equipment was completed in 2013. Two Indian funded IT/Communication projects have been established: A Centre of Excellence in ICT by C-DAC; and the Pan African e-Network Project by TCIL.
Tanzania is one of the largest beneficiaries of training slots allocated under ITEC/SCAAP programmes, and also avails of a number of such training slots offered under IAFS. The two countries signed in 1966 an Agreement on Friendship and Technical, Economic and Scientific Cooperation, within the framework of which ITEC cooperation has been extended to Tanzania since 1972. Starting with 24 trainees annually, it has gradually increased to 330 slots in 2014-15. 285 slots for civilian officers and 39 for defence officers were utilized in the year 2014-15. Tanzania is a major beneficiary of Indian scholarships and other educational assistance, including self-financing students in India’s institutes of higher learning. 24 scholarships have been offered for academic year 2014-15 by ICCR under the Commonwealth Scholarship/Fellowship Plan and General Cultural Scholarship Scheme. About 2000 Tanzanian students are estimated to be in India, the majority on self-financing basis.
Culture
An Indian Cultural Centre (ICC), sponsored by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), was set up in December 2010. Currently the ICC offers Yoga classes and tabla and other musical instruments training by India-based teachers. Hindi classes on gratis basis are conducted by a local volunteer. The ICC has been increasing local content in its programmes and partnership with local artists, cultural entities and publishing fraternity to enhance the cultural dialogue between India and Tanzania.
Among the major programmes held at/by the ICC in last two years are the performances by Kuchipudi group led by Ms. Prateeksha Kashi (May 2015), an evening with Anup Jalota (June 2015), fusion music band led by Murad Ali Khan (Oct 2014), Vani Madhav, an Odissi exponent (Aug 2014), concerts by Vidya Shah (Nov 2013), performances by a Delhi-based contemporary Indian dance company which was sponsored by CII (Sept 2013), and a Kathak dance troupe (Jan 2013). A showcase on western India (Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra and Rajasthan) was held at the Indian Cultural Centre in Oct 2014. Several programmes with local content, including IndoAfrican fusion music in cooperation with the Department of Arts and Music of Dar es Salaam University, rangoli exhibition, photographic exhibitions, fashion show, Hindi comedy show, mono-artiste from India performing a skit on Swami Vivekananda, exhibition of paintings and sculptures of local artistes, film screenings, public receptions for iconic Indian celebrities, including Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand, etc, have been held at the Centre. 5 There are about twenty active Indian/Asian community groups in Tanzania, most of them Dar es Salaam based. These groups regularly organize Indian cultural and social events mostly with local participation and occasionally by sponsoring performing artistes from India. Sports exchanges between India and Tanzania are rare, even in the field of cricket, which has some enthusiasts especially among the local Indian/Asian community
Indian Community
Tanzania has about 50,000 people of Indian origin [referred to as Asians]. They are concentrated in the major urban centres of Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Dodoma, Morogoro, Zanzibar, Mwanza and Mbeya. The vast majority are from Gujarat, mainly from Kutch and Kathiawad regions. Their ancestors came to this region [Zanzibar and Tanganyika] since early 19th century as merchants, sailors and labour employed in railroad building. The Indian community continues to play an important role in trade and industry. The community has been slowly dwindling in size [from its peak of about 100,000 in the early sixties]. There are about 10000 Indian nationals [expatriates] mostly professionals, who live and work in Tanzania, mainly in industry and services. They represent a broad mix from all over India.
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India – Tanzania Relations
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