By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
With geopolitical changes at its height, Russia now considers Africa as its indispensable partner, reviewing and revisiting unfulfilled pledges made decades ago. Even as its interest is seemingly rising, Russia is not investing as practically as expected across Africa. Anti-western criticisms dominate its rhetoric at business meetings, summits and conferences. Official travels have become frequent between the first and second Russia-Africa summits held respectively in late October 2019 (Sochi) and in July 2023 (St.Petersburg). Several agreements were signed at both summits with African countries.
In late October, the Russian-Tanzanian intergovernmental commission, headed by Russian Economic Development Minister, Maxim Reshetnikov, was in Dar es Salaam, aiming at opening new business horizons for cooperation in Tanzania and throughout the East African region. The objectives of achieving genuine economic growth and development for the majority of East Africa’s impoverished population. As always, Russia looks forward to strengthening economic cooperation with Tanzania, specific spheres include broadening trade, raising tourism and reviewing the possibility of engaging in energy and exports.
“We stand ready to increase exports of agricultural machinery, construction materials, pharmaceutical products, natural gas, LNG. We view interaction in the energy field as promising. We know about Tanzania’s interest in gas and LNG exports. Apart from that, our companies are willing to work on extracting fossil fuels and implementing major pipeline projects. One of the oil and gas institutes that specializes in standardizing and assessing compliance of oil and gas equipment is interested in cooperation with the Tanzanian state oil and gas company,” Reshetnikov said after an exclusive meeting with the Prime Minister of Tanzania Kassim Majaliwa, according to local media reports.
“Considering the pace at which electricity consumption is growing in Tanzania and the necessity of commissioning new power generating facilities, we’re prepared to build wind and solar power plants of any capacity and complexity,” he said.
The advantageous geographic position of Tanzania on the coast of the Indian Ocean and its connection to other African countries unlocks great opportunities for Russia. “Bearing in mind that Tanzania is located on the Indian Ocean’s coast and is a member of regional integration associations, therefore country can serve as the sole window through which Russian products could enter the Eastern African market. Russia could play an analogous role for exporters on the Eurasian Economic Union’s markets,” Reshetnikov said.
The agricultural sector is yet another priority. “To maintain the agricultural sector’s brisk development, Tanzania needs new technology, fertilizers, and the production of animal feedstuffs. Our companies are willing to supply them, cooperate in organizing the efficient use of fertilizers for plants, and share best agronomic practices. And also invest in joint projects to grow produce to be supplied to Russia and third countries,” Reshetnikov said.
“We expect to be able to intensify cooperation between veterinary and phytosanitary oversight agencies. Russian businesses are willing to supply animal products. We’ve offered a list of such companies to the Tanzanian side and asked them to issue permits for such supplies as soon as possible,” he said.
Some of the other highlights embodied FESCO Transportation Group, the flagship of which is the Far Eastern Shipping Company (FESCO), planning to launch shipping services between Russian ports and Tanzania. According to the Group’s vice president Dmitry Pankov, Tanzania could serve as a major transport and logistics hub for shipping goods to other countries in the East African Community (EAC) and Central African region.
On tourism at the Russia-Tanzania business forum, Tanzania offered to organize a familiarization tour for Russian tourism industry representatives in order to build business relations in tourism and to eventually begin direct flights. In turn, Russia offered to promote Tanzanian tourism products on its market, organize business meetings with Russian tour operators, and present the tourism potential at Russia’s tourism forums. Russia is also interested in joint social projects, including those in education, science and healthcare.
Political and diplomatic mutual understanding between Russia and Tanzania creates good conditions for increasing trade and economic cooperation. “Tanzanian business shows great interest in Russia. Russian business, in turn, is ready to enter new markets, invest in joint projects and share technologies. We are ready to help the Tanzanian economy maintain the high growth rates in energy, agriculture, infrastructure development and tourism,” the minister finally added.
The parties discussed the nature of the current interaction and promising areas of future cooperation. Reshetnikov highlighted the reliable and historically established relations between the governments, business, and people of Russia and Tanzania. After Soviet’s collapse, Russia maintain an excellent diplomatic relations over these three decades with Republic of Tanzania in East Africa.