TANZANIA and Belgium have agreed to strengthen business ties by promoting investment in key sectors, including agriculture, livestock, fisheries and industry.

Exchanging ideas with a visiting Belgium business mission comprising 40 companies, Industry and Trade minister Dr Selemani Jafo stated that the meeting would help build relationships and generate economic opportunities.

The delegation is in the country to explore investment opportunities across various sectors, paying a five day visit from November 23 to 28 to hold discussions with local entrepreneurs, a visit organized by the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) working with the Belgian embassy.

He said that the government is focused on increasing the number of industries to uplift job openings, with the background of improving business ties between the two countries.

Current trade averages $186m of exports to Belgium, while importing $115m worth of goods from that country, which the minister says demonstrates that we are doing well.

Tanzania primarily exports agricultural products, including coffee, tea and minerals, whereas the meeting would provide an opportunity for local businesses to seek ways of boosting exports, especially as Belgium is part of the wider European Union market.

"The government is committed to supporting agriculture, including increasing budget allocation to build infrastructure and input supply networks," he said.

Jestas Nyamanga, the envoy to Belgium, said the investors are in Tanzania to explore suitable investment niches, as the EU member state enhances its presence in Tanzania, with over $430m invested in sectors such as mining, agriculture, logistics and hospitality.

TIC organised the meetings to encourage further investments in different sectors, he said, pointing at the fisheries sector as a potential area of more investments.

The meeting attracted over 300 local business people, with several contracts expected to be signed, while the delegation toured the port of Dar es Salaam today to observe ongoing developments.

Daudi Riganda, the TIC acting director of investment, affirmed that by late last month 48 projects worth $2m had been registered by Belgian investors, likely to create over 2,000 jobs.

"We expect the number of projects to increase following this meeting, as the number of projects registered over the past 20 years has been unsatisfactory," he stated.

Belgian resident ambassador Peter Huyghebaert expressed satisfaction with the strong turnout of local businesspeople, seeing it as a good sign of potential areas of cooperation. “It is a good start," he remarked.