TANZANIA is seeking stronger collaboration with China in industrialisation and agriculture to foster the blue economy as it prepares its vision beyond 2025.

Prof Kitila Mkumbo, the Planning and Investment state minister in the President's Office,  made this observation at a forum for shared development among Chinese and local economists in the commercial capital yesterday.

The initiative also comes as the two parties warm up for the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled September 4th-5th this year and the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations.

He said China’s dedication to investment in the country has been more practical than a diplomatic wish, with an enhanced commitment to invest in the agricultural and industrial sectors.

“With Chinese investors, we discuss opportunities and how to exploit them. Not too much about challenges and problems,” he said, implying there is reduced scope for policy disputes with Chinese stakeholders, in which case China is industrializing Africa and Tanzania, a milestone for development efforts.

China has been there to provide critical strategic support when it was needed, and at present as Africa wants to industrialize, “the surest way to employ our young people, once again China is there,” he stated.

A Chinese investor is putting up the largest industrial park in eastern Africa in Kwala area of Kibaha in Coast Region, he said, similarly pointing at the Sapphire Floating Glass factory in Mkuranga District.

“Tanzania is no longer importing tiles from Spain as tiles are now coming from Kibaha and Mkuranga districts, Coast Region,” he specified, while Chen Mingjian, the Chinese ambassador, said that China-Tanzania 2023 trade volume stood at $8.78bn.

This was an increase by 5.7 percent on an annual basis, making China the country’s largest trading partner and source of direct investment flows for eight consecutive years, she said, noting that cooperation with Tanzania was uppermost in China-Africa cooperation.

China was achieving fruitful results from its investments in Tanzania as it has always been a participant, an enabler, and beneficiary in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) beneficiary.

In the context of flourishing China-Africa relations enormous opportunities and great prospects for collaboration between Chinese and African experts abound, she said, seeing the Dar forum as an affirmation of such prospects.

She recalled that during the state visit to Tanzania in 2013, President Xi Jinping launched the formula of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith for China’s Africa policy. 

Dr Tausi Kida, the permanent secretary, said that Tanzania has seen a sharp rise in registered investment projects, recording 490 projects taking up $4bn in past first seven months, with China in the lead. 

China has been in the lead for top 10 foreign investment sources from 1997 to 2024, with 1,360 projects valued at $11.5bn, she added.