By Business Insider Reporter
Oman and Tanzania are seeking to deepen their economic and investment partnership, with a renewed focus on translating longstanding diplomatic relations and existing agreements into concrete projects that deliver mutual economic benefits.
The commitment emerged during the third session of the Omani-Tanzanian Joint Committee held in Zanzibar on November 10, 2026, co-chaired by Oman’s Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, and Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr Mahmoud Thabit Kombo.
The discussions centred on expanding trade, mobilising investment, strengthening business engagement and addressing implementation challenges affecting joint initiatives.
Opening the proceedings, Mr Sayyid Badr highlighted the historical, cultural and human ties connecting the two countries, describing their shared civilisational heritage as a strong foundation for a more ambitious economic partnership.
He called for accelerated implementation of agreements and memoranda of understanding signed during President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s official visit to Oman in June 2022, emphasising the need to translate diplomatic commitments into practical programmes and projects with measurable benefits.
Oman expressed interest in expanding commercial cooperation in traditional sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism, transport and logistics, while exploring emerging opportunities in education, financial technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship.
Dr Kombo reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, noting that the Joint Committee provides an important platform for monitoring existing agreements, resolving obstacles to project implementation and identifying new areas of cooperation.
The wider discussions also covered the blue economy, energy, minerals, infrastructure, livestock, labour, archival cooperation and diplomatic training, reflecting the breadth of opportunities available to both countries.
The investment agenda received further attention during a separate meeting between Mr Sayyid Badr and senior Tanzanian government officials, including Prof. Kitila Mkumbo, Minister of State in the President’s Office for Planning and Investment; Minerals Minister Anthony Mavunde; and Transport Minister Prof. Makame Mnyaa Mbarawa.
The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on investment priorities, potential joint ventures and stronger institutional coordination, with particular attention to opportunities in Tanzania’s natural resources and infrastructure development.
A key outcome was the agreement to establish practical mechanisms for implementing the Joint Committee’s decisions, including a joint working team and designated focal points. The two countries also agreed on the need for a roadmap containing executive programmes for priority projects and cooperation areas.
The proposed roadmap will align bilateral initiatives with Oman’s Vision 2040 and Tanzania’s Development Vision (Dira) 2050, providing a framework for linking cooperation to their respective long-term economic transformation ambitions.
At the conclusion, the two foreign ministers signed the minutes of the third Joint Committee session and two memoranda of understanding covering the mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates and cooperation in diplomatic training. The outcomes signal a renewed push to move Omani-Tanzanian relations beyond historical and diplomatic ties towards a more commercially focused partnership, with investment mobilisation, institutional coordination and practical project delivery at its centre.
