Since then, Bastille Day has become an occasion to remind the core values and motto of the French nation: Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. In this sense, France and Tanzania share many values, thus enabling a mutual understanding and a trustful relationship since the independence of Tanganyika in December 1961.
This trust that we have built throughout the years allows us to enjoy a strong cooperation on various and important subjects, economic, political, cultural and societal. The most recent example is our work together for the success of the Generation Equality Forum, held in Paris between June 30th to July 2nd, with the exceptional visit of the Vice-President Dr. Philip Mpango, embodying Tanzania’s commitments to gender equality.
In 2020, the total amount of trade between France and Tanzania represented 150 million dollars. More than 90 per cent of French exports are based on 4 major sectors: mechanical equipment, electrical, electronic and IT equipment; while imports from Tanzania are mainly from the agro-food sector, forestry, and fishing industry.
In order to pave way to deeper and stronger economic bilateral relations, the French-Tanzanian Chamber of Commerce (FTCC) was launched in January 2020 with the objective to promote partnerships between French and Tanzanian companies.
We believe our bilateral exchanges will continue to increase in the coming years as we attest efforts to put our economy at the centre of Tanzania’s foreign policy, her desire to improve the business climate in the country and to foster East African economic integration.
The private sector led four day forum aimed at strengthening and nurturing trade initiatives whose ultimate goal is to improve the two countries' business partnership.
The event focused on sectors that will support the Tanzania strategy of industrialisation: Energy, including renewable energies, transport, digital solutions and sought how to provide capacity building to local businesses.
More than 200 people participated, including at least 50 French and Tanzanian companies. Tanzanian students from universities and technical high schools of Dar es Salaam also were invited.
It is open secret that French participation in East African bloc trading and investment was low compared to West Africa but said we hope things would change. Total is well known in East Africa, but France have bigger companies as well on energy, IT, manufacturing with a number of subsidiaries. Total, one of the largest petrol-products distributors, has been operating in the country for some four decades.
The installation of a minigrid of solar panels, which will progressively be replicated throughout Africa, constitutes one of Engie's key objectives, which is to provide rural populations with access to environmentally- friendly energy.
Data shows that in 2015 Tanzania imported from France pharmaceuticals, and aircraft and related equipment comprised over 50 per cent of total volume. On other hand France imported from Tanzania unmanufactured tobacco, precious stones--both semi and uncut stones--and coffee.
We believe long-term sustainable development will keep the private sector thriving in Tanzania and Africa as a whole. And in order for this to happen, private companies need to begin by including the poor as producers, suppliers, employees and consumers.
We believe also that France will start to see non-francophone East Africa as an equally attractive investment destination because of the rapid growth rates and political stability in the region.
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