Tanzania, Qatar ink deal to boost trade, investments

By Kizito Makoye

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AA) – Tanzania and its semi-autonomous Zanzibar island signed an agreement with Qatar on Thursday to strengthen trade and investment relations and revitalize their long-standing bilateral ties.

The tripartite agreement was signed by the chambers of commerce of Tanzania, Zanzibar, and Qatar, according to a statement issued by Tanzania's Directorate of Presidential Communications.

The agreement, witnessed by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is on an official visit to Qatar, is aimed at enhancing trade and investment cooperation and partnership between business communities from the two countries in tourism and hospitality, infrastructure, and energy, the statement said.

It added that the agreement was signed by Mohamed bin Ahmed Twar Al Kuwari, first vice chairman of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce, and Paul Koyi, chairman of Tanzania Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture, as well as Ali Suleiman Amour, chairman of Zanzibar National Chamber of Commerce.

Meanwhile, President Hassan met with Qatar's Public Health Minister Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari and agreed to share expertise in emergency and trauma care, the statement said.

Hassan also met with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, business leaders, and attended the world innovation summit for health, which concluded on Thursday, it added.

The east African country has a close business relationship with Qatar, with trade exchange between the two countries estimated to have increased significantly in the last five years, according to government records.

In 2020, Tanzania exported goods worth $8.9 million to Qatar. The products exported include fish fillets and sawn wood, the statistics show.