Africa-Press – Tanzania. PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has held bilateral talks with the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, where they agreed to further deepen economic and trade relations between their countries.
During the discussions, the leaders committed to finalising arrangements for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), key frameworks aimed at strengthening the business and investment environment between Tanzania and the UAE.
The high-level talks took place on the sidelines of the World Government Summit (WGS) 2026, which concluded yesterday in Dubai.
Both leaders underscored the importance of expanding economic cooperation, with a particular focus on collaboration in the implementation of strategic development projects that support sustainable growth.
As part of the discussions, the two sides also explored opportunities to enhance connectivity between the two countries.
Among the proposals discussed was the possibility of Emirates Airline opening new routes, including the Kilimanjaro–Zanzibar route, a move expected to boost tourism, trade, and investment flows into Tanzania.
According to a statement released by the Directorate of Presidential Communications, trade between Tanzania and the UAE has recorded significant growth over recent years.
Trade volume increased from 987.31 million US dollars (over 2.5tri/-) in 2018 to 2.1 billion US dollars (over 5.4tri/-) by 2024.
This steady upward trend has positioned Tanzania as the UAE’s fourthlargest trading partner in Africa.
President Samia also participated in a panel discussion during the summit, where she highlighted Tanzania’s ongoing efforts to strengthen infrastructure as a foundation for economic growth and regional integration.
She noted that the government is committed to linking all major ports, including the Dar es Salaam Port, through an integrated modern railway network.
According to the President, this initiative is intended to enhance regional trade efficiency and attract increased investment.
She explained that the interconnection of the Dar es Salaam, Tanga, and Mtwara ports through modern infrastructure, including railways, is progressing steadily and is designed to create a more enabling environment for investors.
She further revealed that the government plans to extend connectivity to inland ports located on Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Nyasa.
These efforts are aimed at facilitating smoother movement of goods and strengthening economic integration within the East African region and beyond.
“We are trying to connect these ports to other parts of Tanzania by railway so that goods arriving in Tanzania can be transported more efficiently to neighbouring countries,” President Samia said.
She also reiterated the government’s commitment to major transport infrastructure projects, including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which will span approximately 2,100 kilometres from Dar es Salaam to Burundi, with future plans to extend the line to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“This is a major transport route that can be used from the Dar es Salaam Port to anywhere in the region,” she said, noting that Tanzania’s geographical position, bordering eight countries, makes efficient rail and road networks central to the country’s connectivity strategy.
President Samia attributed the successful implementation of largescale infrastructure projects to financial support from development partners, including the African Development Bank Group, the World Bank, the OPEC Fund, the Abu Dhabi Fund, and the Abu Dhabi Export Fund (ADEX).
On policy and regulatory reforms, the President said the government has undertaken significant changes to laws and regulations to improve predictability and create a more attractive investment climate.
“In principle, the basic infrastructure for investment growth is already in place in Tanzania,” she emphasised.
