MWE Correspondent
Tanzania and Turkey have taken another step toward deepening their long-standing bilateral relationship following high-level talks between senior officials in Dar es Salaam, highlighting growing cooperation in diplomacy, trade, and national development.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, James Kinyasi Millya, met with the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Tanzania, Dr. Bekir Gezer, in discussions that reflected the steady expansion of ties between the two countries. The meeting was held on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, and focused on reinforcing areas of mutual interest that continue to shape the partnership.
During the talks, both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation in key sectors, including education, agriculture, science and technology, health, transport, defence and security, trade and investment, and tourism. Officials noted that collaboration in these sectors remains central to sustaining and advancing the broader relationship between the two nations, whose cooperation has steadily evolved over the years within the framework of Tanzania–Turkey relations.
Ambassador Gezer observed that trade between Tanzania and Turkey has continued to grow, supported by strong political understanding and improving economic frameworks. He recalled the shared commitment made during the official visit of President Samia Suluhu Hassan to Turkey in 2024, when leaders from both countries agreed to work toward achieving a bilateral trade volume of one billion US dollars annually. According to the ambassador, this target remains realistic if both sides continue to promote investment, remove trade barriers, and encourage private-sector participation.
Deputy Minister Millya expressed appreciation for Turkey’s contribution to Tanzania’s development efforts, noting progress in sectors such as transport infrastructure, healthcare services, education, tourism, and investment. He said these contributions have supported Tanzania’s development priorities while also creating employment opportunities and strengthening skills transfer.
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The Deputy Minister also highlighted the role of improved air connectivity in strengthening people-to-people relations and economic exchange. He noted that the increase in direct international flights linking Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar with Turkey has significantly boosted tourist arrivals. Better connectivity, he said, has helped showcase Tanzania’s diverse attractions, including wildlife, cultural heritage, and coastal tourism, reinforcing the country’s global profile in tourism in Tanzania.
Economic cooperation between Tanzania and Turkey is underpinned by formal agreements that have helped create a stable and predictable environment for investors. A Trade Cooperation Agreement signed in 2010, followed by an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement concluded in 2011 and fully implemented in 2022, has played a key role in boosting investor confidence. Since then, investments from Turkey have expanded notably in construction, manufacturing, transport, and tourism, contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to the Tanzanian economy and generating thousands of jobs.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to maintaining close diplomatic engagement and practical cooperation, as Tanzania and Turkey continue to pursue shared economic ambitions and a stronger strategic partnership grounded in mutual respect and long-term development goals.
