MWE Correspondent
Tanzania has expressed its ambition to elevate its relationship with Japan from traditional development cooperation to a broader strategic economic partnership focused on trade, investment, technology transfer and human capital development.
Minister of State in the President’s Office for Planning and Investment, Prof. Kitila Mkumbo, made the remarks during talks with Japan’s Deputy Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yonish Ohei, in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Prof. Mkumbo said Tanzania highly values Japan’s contribution to the country’s development through grants, concessional loans and technical cooperation provided through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
He noted that Japan’s support has contributed to development in key sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, energy, water, health and education.
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However, Tanzania now wants to deepen the partnership by placing greater emphasis on technology transfer, skills development, quality infrastructure, agriculture and agro-processing, energy, industrial development and digital transformation.
The government also wants to attract more Japanese private-sector investment, companies, technology and capital into Tanzania.
“As we enter a new phase of development under Vision 2050, our expectation is to elevate Tanzania-Japan relations from the traditional framework of development cooperation towards a broader strategic economic partnership,” Prof. Mkumbo said.
Tanzania has also called on Japan to continue providing development assistance, concessional financing and technical cooperation through JICA, while encouraging greater participation by Japanese businesses in the Tanzanian economy.
The proposed shift reflects Tanzania’s broader efforts to attract investment and technology partnerships as it pursues its long-term development objectives under Vision 2050.
