India Tanzania Relations | 12 Oct 2023

For Prelims: Bordering Countries of Tanzania, Lake Victoria, Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Tanganyika.

For Mains: Areas of Cooperation Between India and Tanzania, Bilateral Groupings & Agreements, Global Biofuels Alliance

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, India welcomed the President of Tanzania at the India Tanzania Investment Forum in New Delhi.

  • India and Tanzania have upgraded their bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership.

What are the Key Takeaways from the Visit?

  • Both nations inked six agreements to strengthen cooperation across various vital domains.
    • It encompasses cooperation in the digital domain, culture, sports, maritime industries, and white shipping information sharing.
    • These agreements lay the foundation for fostering technological and cultural exchange between the two nations.
  • Both nations are promoting trade between the Indian Rupee and Tanzanian Shilling by enabling authorized banks in India to open Special Rupee Vostro Accounts of correspondent banks in Tanzania.
    • Efforts to address concerns and ensure the sustainability of this currency trade mechanism are underway.
  • The newly established five-year defense roadmap sets the stage for expanded cooperation in military training, maritime collaboration, capacity building, and the defense industry.
  • Both nations expressed their intent to enhance cooperation in maritime security in the Indian Ocean region.
    • The success of the first-ever India-Tanzania joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance exercise in July, 2023 was a positive step in this direction.
  • Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan received an honorary doctorate from Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi.
    • She is the first woman to receive this honor for her role in promoting economic diplomacy, regional integration, and multilateralism between India and Tanzania.
  • The Government of Tanzania also announced that they would be joining the International Big Cat Alliance and the Global Biofuel Alliance.

What are the Key Facts Related to Tanzania?

  • About: Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa. With eight neighbors, it is among the top 10 countries in the world with the most international borders.
    • The islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia are also a part of Tanzania.

  • Capital: Dar es Salaam is the administrative capital of the country while Dodoma is the legislative capital.
  • Currency: Tanzanian shilling
  • Landform:
    • Its northern region has the southern part of Lake Victoria, which is the source of the River Nile.
      • Also, in the north is the World famous Ngorongoro Crater, which is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera.
    • The Northeastern part of the country is mountainous. This region is home to Mount Meru, an active volcano, and Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa and the highest single free-standing mountain in the world.
    • In the west lies Lake Tanganyika, the world’s second deepest lake.
    • The eastern region has coastal lowlands along the Indian Ocean.

What are the Other Areas of Cooperation Between India and Tanzania?

  • About:
    • India sees Tanzania as a valuable partner in the Indo-Pacific region, reflecting the broader geopolitical context.
      • Tanzania plays an important role in overall India-Africa relations.
  • Economic Cooperation:
    • India is the largest destination for Tanzania’s exports and two-way trade was worth USD 6.4 billion in 2022-23, including Indian exports of USD 3.9 billion.
      • India is the fifth largest investor in Tanzania.
    • India’s Major Exports to Tanzania: Petroleum products, Pharmaceutical products, Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers, Electrical, electronic equipment, Sugars and sugar confectionery
    • Tanzania’s Major Exports to India: Gold ore, cashew nuts, spices (mainly cloves), ores and metal scrap, gemstones, etc.