MWE Correspondent
Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahamoud Thabit Kombo, has arrived in Singapore for a five-day working visit, a mission designed to strengthen trade, investment, and diplomatic cooperation between the two nations.
The visit, taking place from August 25 to 29, 2025, highlights Tanzania’s determination to expand its global partnerships at a time of shifting economic landscapes.
Kombo’s programme includes participation in the 5th Singapore-Africa Ministerial Exchange Visit and the 8th Africa-Singapore Business Forum, where regional leaders and global investors are expected to discuss ways of boosting collaboration. He will also preside over a dedicated Tanzania-Singapore Business Forum, where opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy, and tourism will be showcased.
Accompanied by a high-level business delegation, the minister is advancing what officials describe as economic diplomacy — a strategy that seeks to position Tanzania as a gateway to the wider East African Community market of more than 300 million people. By doing so, Tanzania hopes to attract investors not only to its domestic industries but also to its growing role as a regional trade hub.
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Economic relations between the two countries have been steadily growing. Singapore imports Tanzanian products such as coffee, cloves, fish, and minerals, while Tanzania benefits from Singaporean exports of electronics, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, and industrial equipment. Data from the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority shows that, since 1997, Singaporean investors have registered 36 projects valued at more than US $535 million, creating over 3,200 jobs. Manufacturing remains the largest recipient of this capital.
Beyond trade, the visit reflects a broader diplomatic alignment. Tanzania’s foreign policy has increasingly prioritised Asia, recognising Singapore as both a global financial hub and a model for rapid economic transformation. Officials believe that closer cooperation with Singapore can provide access to advanced technologies, sustainable infrastructure expertise, and innovative financing models.
Analysts say this trip could set the stage for a new era in bilateral relations, with Singaporean companies potentially exploring sectors such as renewable energy and digital innovation in Tanzania. At the same time, Tanzanian exporters may find fresh opportunities to penetrate Asian markets through Singapore’s strategic position as a regional gateway.
