Vietnam, Tanzania look to turn economic potential into concrete projects

Agriculture, deeper processing, trade and investment are emerging as areas with significant room for cooperation between Vietnam and Tanzania, with direct business-to-business connections seen as an important step in turning government-level commitments into concrete cooperation programmes.

This approach was discussed at a Vietnam-Tanzania business networking forum held in Dar es Salaam on September 22, one of the key activities on the sidelines of the second session of the Vietnam-Tanzania Intergovernmental Committee. The forum was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Tanzania, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, and Viettel Tanzania (Halotel).

According to James Millya, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of Tanzania, the forum demonstrated the two governments’ determination to promote economic diplomacy and translate their strong political ties into practical results in trade and investment.

For Tanzania, Vietnam is an important market for its agricultural products, particularly cashew nuts. Statistics unveiled by the Tanzanian side at the forum show its trade surplus with Vietnam rose from US$140.9 million in 2022 to US$314.2 million in 2025. The International Trade Centre (ITC) also identifies Vietnam as one of Tanzania’s potential export markets.

Combining strengths to add value to supply chains

A notable feature of the cooperation agenda is the focus on processing, technology and value chains, rather than simply the exchange of goods.

Tanzania has abundant resources and significant potential in areas such as cashew nuts, cotton, sesame, coffee, seafood, energy and mining. Vietnamese businesses, meanwhile, have experience in agricultural production and processing, supply-chain development and market expansion.

At the forum, the Tanzanian side presented investment opportunities linked to the Tanzania Development Vision 2050, including projects involving standard-gauge railways, the Port of Dar es Salaam, the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project and special economic zones.

With its position connecting the East African Community (EAC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Tanzania is seeking to attract more international resources into agricultural processing, the marine economy, textiles and garments, renewable energy, mining and digital technology.

These areas also offer scope for businesses from the two countries to explore complementary cooperation models. Rather than simply exporting products to the market, Vietnamese companies could become more deeply involved in production, processing, technology and market development in Tanzania.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep proposed strengthening South-South cooperation in agriculture by combining technology and technical transfers with investment and market expansion. The approach aims to increase value along supply chains and create sustainable livelihoods for local people.

Drawing on the experience of Halotel, Deputy Minister James Millya also praised the contributions of Vietnamese businesses to telecommunications infrastructure development, expanded internet coverage, job creation and the improvement of technical skills among local workers. The Tanzanian side hopes this cooperation model can be extended to other sectors.

Business links to turn opportunities into cooperation

If priority sectors create room for cooperation, direct connections between businesses are the step needed to turn those opportunities into projects.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep and the Vietnamese delegation, comprising around 30 representatives, including those from Vingroup, Intimex, Phulimex and Halotel, held direct discussions with Tanzanian agencies and businesses operating in trade, investment, agriculture, land, fisheries and energy.

Tanzanian businesses and organisations, including TANICA, the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange Plc., the Cashewnut Board of Tanzania and the National Irrigation Commission, also presented their capabilities, needs and areas where they were seeking partners.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Tanzania Vu Thanh Huyen highlighted the importance of direct connections between the business communities of the two countries in turning macro-level commitments into concrete projects. The Vietnamese Embassy in Tanzania affirmed that it would continue to provide information, connect potential partners and support businesses on the basis of mutual benefit.

More broadly, discussions at the forum showed that Vietnam-Tanzania economic ties have further room to move from potential and dialogue towards concrete links in investment, technology, production and markets.

Connecting Tanzania’s resources and markets with Vietnam’s experience in production, processing and technology could open up new value chains, while creating greater space for businesses from both countries to participate in regional and international markets.

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