Русский
Russia and Tanzania are negotiating an agreement on the promotion and mutual protection of investments, according to Russia’s Economic Development Minister, Maxim Reshetnikov. He was speaking on Friday (May 15) at the Russia-Tanzania business forum in Arusha, Tanzania.
Reshetnikov said that “an agreement on the promotion and mutual protection of investments is, of course, essential, primarily for banks so they could realistically assess risks. We have managed to launch negotiations on it quickly. Implementing the document should significantly reduce risks for our investors. There is the political will to adopt it, so I hope we can sign the document soon.”
Such documents are typically referred to as ‘bilateral investment treaties’ and provide legal protections for investors in each respective country. They may also include tax minimisation clauses, especially in the services sector.
Reshetnikov said that the dynamic of bilateral relations signals that Tanzania is becoming a leader in the African market. In 2025, a new bilateral trade record was set, with Russia-Tanzania bilateral trade growing nearly 20% to reach slightly more than US$200 million. Russia exports to Tanzania mainly grain and fertilizers, equipment for the agro-industrial complex, transport, and veterinary drugs, while Tanzania exports tobacco raw materials, coffee, tea, and fruits.
He added that “It is the mutual interest of businesses in cooperation and in finding new markets and projects that has set the pace we have reached today.” We are currently consistently creating an intergovernmental mechanism, business contacts, and a transport agenda; developing port and logistics infrastructure; and creating new freight routes. All of this is creating a stronghold in Tanzania for Russian companies to enter East African markets.”
Reshetnikov said that priority areas for further cooperation include energy, industry, transport, agriculture, tourism, pharmaceuticals, digitalization of the economy, the urban environment, science, and education.
