Diplomatist Special Report - Tanzania Tanzania 2018 | Page 24

TANZANIA
LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES
An Indian Perspective
By AMB. (RETD.) DEBNATH SHAW
A
frica in general, and Tanzania in particular, are
a happening continent and country, respectively.
Tanzania’s economy has been growing steadily, with
about 7 percent growth rate per annum in the past fi fteen years.
Growth is estimated to have dipped to 6.5 percent in 2017 due
to fall in commodity prices and other international factors,
but is still the highest among the East African Community
(EAC) members. With about 40 percent each of the total
population practicing the Christian and Muslim faiths, and the
rest various other religions, including Hinduism, Sikhism, and
Jainism, this multi-religious and multi-tribal country enjoys
unique political peace and social stability, unparalleled in this
region. An independent Tanganyika came into existence as
a political entity in 1961 without any violence or bloodshed
and underwent various political transformations since then
– in1964 to Tanzania in a Union with Zanzibar; in 1967 a
socialist shift with the Arusha Declaration; and in 1992 with
the introduction of multiparty democracy. All this has been
achieved peacefully and without any disturbance.
Diplomatic Relations and Bilateral Cooperation
between India and Tanzania
India recognised and established diplomatic ties with
Tanzania soon after its independence in 1961. In the fi rst
three decades, bilateral relations were deeply entwined with
Afro-Asian and South-South solidarity, and the common
struggle against colonialism and apartheid, and preference
for non-alignment. India’s own economic and social struggles
and meager resources did not permit it to play a large role
in Tanzania’s quest to modernise and stand on its own feet.
However, India did help in capacity building with teachers,
doctors, and engineers from India assisting their Tanzanian
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counterparts to keep the wheels of education, health, and other
basic services functional after the British left.
After India’s own success with economic reforms in the
1990s leading to higher growth and prosperity, its ability
and willingness to partner with Tanzania in its development
programmes increased significantly. The development
partnership processes with Africa which evolved from
IAFS-I in 2008, has seen Tanzania as a major benefi ciary of
projects funded by Indian grants-in-aid and lines of credit
(LOCs), and utilisation of large numbers of ITEC training
slots. Today, bilateral cooperation engulfs many spheres
like defence, S&T, education, cultural exchanges, etc. A
substantial number of Tanzanians travel to India for medical
services and several hundred students are studying in Indian
schools, colleges, and universities. There are over 50,000
people of Indian origin (PIOs) in Tanzania and over 10,000
Indian nationals live and work in the country as teachers,
doctors, managers, engineers, technicians, accountants, etc,
and in running their own businesses. Tourism, particularly
wildlife safari tours and the white sands of Zanzibar, are a
major draw for Indian tourists to the country, a sector which
is on an upward trajectory.
India-Tanzania Exports and Imports
India has been one of Tanzania’s leading trade partners
in the last few years. Total trade between the two countries
was estimated to be $2.7 billion in 2016-17, with Indian
exports standing at $1.78 billion and Tanzanian exports at
$948 million. Major items of import from India are petroleum
products, pharmaceuticals, buses, trucks, cars and three-
wheelers, tractors and farm equipment, auto parts, electrical
machinery and equipment, iron and steel products, plastic