MWE Correspondent
Tanzania and Vietnam have agreed to enhance cooperation between their private sectors, setting the stage for greater trade and investment flows between the two nations.
The agreement was reached on April 29, 2025, during bilateral talks held at the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) headquarters in Hanoi. The meeting brought together business leaders, investors, and government officials from both countries.
The Tanzanian delegation was led by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Kombo. His Vietnamese counterpart at the table was Mr. Pham Tan Cong, Chairman and President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who also headed a team of entrepreneurs from a wide array of industries.
At the center of the discussions were concrete strategies to promote joint ventures, unlock trade opportunities, and facilitate investment across key sectors. Participants from both countries emphasized the importance of leveraging existing potential to build a more robust economic partnership.
Among the sectors identified as promising for joint investment were agriculture (especially sisal and cashew nut production), mining, the blue economy, and the construction materials industry. These areas were cited as high-impact opportunities that could benefit from technology transfer, capital infusion, and shared expertise.
The President of the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA), Mr. Vicent Minja, called on private sector actors to take the lead in actualizing the vision laid out by their respective governments. He noted that both Tanzania and Vietnam have shown political will to support the private sector by establishing a conducive business environment.
“We must act on the goodwill shown by our governments,” Minja said. “This is the time for business leaders to deepen collaboration, explore new markets, and deliver shared prosperity for our people.”
Echoing those sentiments, Mr. Pham Tan Cong reaffirmed Vietnam’s strong interest in expanding its economic footprint in Africa, particularly in Tanzania. He underscored the importance of maintaining momentum by monitoring implementation of previously signed cooperation agreements and pushing for results-driven dialogue.
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To facilitate this, Cong proposed the establishment of a Tanzania–Vietnam Business Forum — a platform through which companies from both nations could connect regularly, exchange ideas, and resolve trade barriers.
Ambassador Kombo praised the private sector’s growing role in shaping Tanzania’s economic trajectory. He reaffirmed the Tanzanian government’s commitment under President Samia Suluhu Hassan to creating an open, secure, and supportive environment for business.
“Our development agenda is aligned with private sector growth,” Kombo told delegates. “Tanzania is open for business, and we welcome partners who share our vision for inclusive and sustainable development.”
The meeting concluded with a renewed sense of optimism and urgency, as both sides emphasized the need to turn words into action. With formal agreements in place and political goodwill on both sides, the next phase of Tanzania–Vietnam economic relations looks set to be driven by business and by people.
