Tanzania India Relations: Trade, Agreements, Recent Developments - UPSC Notes

India and Tanzania share a deep-rooted relationship shaped by strategic, economic, and geopolitical priorities. Tanzania, located in the East Africa / Africa, holds significant influence in global political and security affairs. Diplomatic relations between India and Tanzania were formalized in 1961 (Tanganyika), 1964 (Tanzania), laying the foundation for a strong bilateral relationship. India and Tanzania have a High Commissions in respective capitals, with each country hosting an embassy in the other’s capital for effective communication. The significance of India and Tanzania ties is of Indian Ocean security, Africa gateway, South-South cooperation, highlighted by their defense cooperation, economic collaboration, cultural exchanges, and common objectives in global security. 

• The cooperation between India and Tanzania extends to Trade, investment, capacity building, defence, health, education like defense, nuclear energy, trade, space, oil and gas, cybersecurity, culture, and education. 
• India and Tanzania have signed a series of agreements in fields like Trade Agreement (1966), Joint Commission (1975), Defence MoU (2003), DTAA (2011), IIT MoU (2023) to bolster mutual cooperation. 
• Available data shows that India and Tanzania maintain a trade volume of USD 647 billion (2022-23), underscoring their growing trade relationship. 
• Among India’s main exports to Tanzania are Petroleum products, pharma, vehicles, machinery, textiles, reflecting strong and balanced trade between the two countries. 
• India regularly imports Gold, cashew nuts, cloves, pulses, precious stones, timber from Tanzania as part of their established economic cooperation. 

India works closely with Tanzania in IIT Madras Zanzibar, scholarships, IT, vocational training to improve learning access and research opportunities. We’ve discussed Role of Diaspora, Cultural Linkages, and Recent Agreements Signed with Tanzania India Relations, which are highly useful for GS Paper 2 and international affairs in PSIR. 

Tanzania India Relations Establishment of Diplomatic Ties

Bilateral ties between India and Tanzania were initiated through Anti-colonial solidarity, Non-Aligned Movement, early trade. Nyerere, Nehru (1961), Indira Gandhi (1976), PM Modi (2016), President Hassan (2023) reflect the deepening of India–Tanzania relations through top-level diplomatic engagements. 

• India–Tanzania relations can be traced through key stages, including Post-colonial ties, economic focus, current strategic partnership.

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Strategic & Political Cooperation of Tanzania India Relations

The Indian Ocean security, Africa gateway, South-South cooperation of the relationship between India and Tanzania is reflected in areas like defense collaboration, economic partnerships, cultural diplomacy, and shared security concerns on the global stage. 

• Training, capacity building, joint exercises, naval visits between India and Tanzania promotes regional security through joint exercises, strategic arms deals, and maritime partnerships. 
• Information sharing, joint efforts, capacity building includes cooperation between India and Tanzania on terrorist tracking, rapid response, and secure communication. 
• India’s strategic Digital solutions MoU, IT training, capacity building partnership with Tanzania advances innovation, digital infrastructure, and security coordination. 
• India and Tanzania collaborate through UN, Commonwealth, NAM, IORA, WTO to address global challenges and promote cooperation. 
• The two nations are advancing their Hydrocarbons, renewable energy potential, capacity building by supporting joint projects in solar, wind, and energy storage sectors. 
• India and Tanzania engage in dynamic collaboration in Tele-education, tele-medicine via Pan-African e-Network, future potential, focusing on joint initiatives, knowledge-sharing, and exploration efforts. 
• India and Tanzania have forged a partnership in areas such as Air Services Agreement exists, promoting tourism flows to enhance people-to-people exchanges and travel opportunities. 
• DTAA signed 2011, in force, prevents double taxation between India and Tanzania play a crucial role in easing tax-related barriers for businesses and investors.

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Trade and Economic Overview of Tanzania India Relations

• India and Tanzania have entered into multiple agreements in sectors like Trade Agreement (1966), Joint Commission (1975), Defence MoU (2003), DTAA (2011), IIT MoU (2023) to strengthen bilateral ties. 
• The trade volume between India and Tanzania has reached USD 647 billion (2022-23), highlighting the strengthening of their economic ties. 
• Investment flows involve Significant Indian FDI in Tanzania, Tanzanian FDI modest, as well as shared projects aimed at enhancing mutual investment ties. 
• Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical Cooperation, typically held once or twice a year, focus on reviewing and strengthening the economic and trade partnerships. 
• India and Tanzania have provided a range of Over USD 11 billion for water, infrastructure projects to advance economic growth and support bilateral financial partnerships. 
• Exports from Tanzania to India stood at Approx USD 252 billion (FY23) (Tanzanian exports). 
• Petroleum products, pharma, vehicles, machinery, textiles are some of India’s top exports to Tanzania, showing the depth of their commercial partnership. 

Imports from India to Tanzania were valued at Approx USD 395 billion (FY23) (Tanzanian imports). With operations in Tanzania, Indian companies such as Tata, Airtel, Bajaj, Bank of Baroda, L&T, Kamal Group are fostering bilateral business ties.

Socio-Cultural & Diaspora Engagement

The vibrant diaspora of India and Tanzania plays a pivotal role in strengthening Economic development, cultural bridge, goodwill ambassadors. Activities like ICCR scholarships, cultural troupes, Yoga, Ayurveda, film festivals help people from both sides come together and appreciate each other’s heritage. India and its partner country support each other in education through programs like Scholarships, IIT Madras Zanzibar, capacity building, vocational training. 

• Tanzania, primarily consisting of students and professionals, enhances cultural, educational, and economic connections, with numbers around Approx 50,000-60,000, influential, well-integrated community. 
• Leveraging Defence aid (hard), development aid, culture, education (soft), India and Tanzania work to enhance their strategic importance and increase their global reach.

Tanzania India Relations Recent Developments

President Samia Suluhu Hassan (2023), EAM Jaishankar (2023) serve as key milestones in advancing the comprehensive partnership between India and Tanzania. The nature of IIT Zanzibar, Digital, White Shipping, Sports, Culture MoUs (2023) indicates ongoing collaboration, even where no major agreements were newly signed. 

• As part of their bilateral agenda, India and Tanzania are pursuing Water supply, IT parks, industrial zones, skills development. 
• Ongoing discussions seek to mitigate Trade balance, project implementation speed, infrastructure gaps and build mutual trust. 
• India and Tanzania are expected to enhance cooperation based on shared Elevated strategic ties, blue economy, digital, health, education.

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UPSC Relevance of Tanzania India Relations

• UPSC Prelims often asks about MoUs, recent diplomatic events, and bilateral cooperation, making this topic high-yield.
• Economic cooperation and trade agreements with Tanzania support GS3 answers related to India’s external sector and economic diplomacy.
• India–Tanzania ties can serve as case studies in essays on diplomacy, soft power, or global cooperation.
• History optional students may refer to ancient or colonial connections between India and Tanzania.