By Business Insider Reporter
Qatar and Tanzania have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding economic cooperation, following high-level discussions between Qatar Chamber and a Tanzanian trade delegation held last week in Doha.
The meeting, hosted at the Qatar Chamber headquarters, was chaired by Mohammed bin Mahdi Al-Ahbabi, a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, and featured a visiting delegation led by Engineer Peter Sikalumba, Chief Engineer at Tanzania’s Ministry of Works.
The delegation included companies from the construction, contracting, real estate, and infrastructure sectors – key areas identified for bilateral collaboration.
Exploring strategic partnerships
The talks centered on enhancing trade and investment cooperation, particularly in Tanzania’s fast-growing construction and infrastructure sectors.
Qatari business owners were invited to explore participation in major public and private sector projects in Tanzania.
In response, Qatar Chamber expressed readiness to support Tanzanian companies keen to enter the Qatari market and pledged to facilitate joint ventures between private-sector actors in both countries.
Mr Al-Ahbabi praised the strength of Qatari-Tanzanian relations, especially in economic and investment domains and highlighted the increasing interest of Qatari investors in Tanzania’s strategic sectors.
He also emphasised the Chamber’s ongoing dialogue with Tanzanian trade bodies, noting past engagements with multiple Tanzanian delegations and continued efforts to foster commercial ties.
The Tanzanian delegation showcased a portfolio of priority infrastructure projects and encouraged Qatari firms to consider direct involvement through public-private partnerships (PPPs) or strategic alliances with local Tanzanian businesses.
Robust bilateral trade growth
The talks come against the backdrop of deepening bilateral trade relations, which have seen significant growth in recent years. According to trade data from 2023:
Qatar exported US$63.5 million worth of goods to Tanzania, dominated by nitrogenous fertilizers, refined petroleum, and ethylene polymers.
Tanzania exported US$32.3 million to Qatar, with sheep and goat meat, bran, and dried legumes as top exports.
Qatari exports to Tanzania grew at an average annual rate of 23.6% between 2018 and 2023, while Tanzanian exports to Qatar rose by 3.48% during the same period – indicating growing demand on both sides.
Investment agreements and market access
Efforts to institutionalise economic cooperation were formalized in 2022 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Qatar Chamber and the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA), as well as the Zanzibar Chamber of Commerce.
The agreement promotes information sharing and encourages joint ventures, particularly in infrastructure, energy, and agriculture.
Zanzibar has emerged as a key target for Qatari investors.
In May 2023, its president urged Qatari businesses to invest in the semi-autonomous region, citing its access to regional economic blocs such as SADC, EAC, and AfCFTA as compelling strategic advantages.
Expanding sectoral cooperation
Beyond construction and infrastructure, tourism and agribusiness have become focal points of bilateral cooperation:
In 2024, the Tanzanian Embassy in Doha worked with Qatar Tourism to promote Tanzania as a premier travel destination.
The collaboration led to Tanzania’s participation in the Qatar International Travel and Tourism Exhibition (Travel Mart) in November 2024.
In February 2025, Tanzanian meat exporter WRIS Agro Company Ltd signed an MoU with Dream and Guide Hospitality Company of Qatar during the 12th International Agriculture Exhibition (AGRITEQ 2025). The deal enables the export of premium chilled and frozen meats to the Qatari market, including goat, beef, and lamb products.
Growing partnership
The momentum in Qatar–Tanzania relations is being driven by shared goals: economic diversification, food and energy security, and regional market integration.
Both governments have signaled strong political and institutional support for the private sector to play a leading role in expanding trade and investment flows. As talks progress and initiatives materialize, Qatar and Tanzania are well-positioned to become significant economic partners in sectors ranging from infrastructure development and agriculture to tourism and energy, forging a resilient and diversified economic relationship.
