Japan-Tanzania Relations

Japan recognized Tanganyika immediately after its independence from the United Kingdom in December 1961. Zanzibar became independent in 1963 and the United Republic of Tanzania was formed in April 1964 by Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Since then, Japan has been enjoying friendly and cordial relations with Tanzania for more than half a century. Tanzania's first participation in the Olympic Games was in Tokyo in October 1964. The Japan World Exposition, Osaka, 1970 was also Tanzania's first participation in a World Expo. The historical momentum for Tanzania resonates with the important steps in Japan's post-World War II history.

Throughout the long history of friendship between Tanzania and Japan, there have been many important visits in both directions. Their Majesties the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita visited Tanzania in 1983 when they were Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and in 2014, Their Imperial Highness Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Akishino also visited Tanzania. From Tanzania, Japan is honored to have received the first president, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, as a state guest in 1981. The second President, the late Ali Hassan Mwinyi, the third president, the late Benjamin Mkapa, and the fourth president, H.E. Jakaya Kikwete also visited Japan.
 
The Japanese government’s support for Tanzania’s development efforts dates back to 1966, when Japan extended its first concessional loan to Tanzania. Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) were first sent to Tanzania in 1967. Tanzania was the second country in the African continent to accept JOCV. Since then, more than 1,700 volunteers have been sent to Tanzania, working at the grassroots level in the fields of agriculture, education, health, local administration, etc.

The Japanese government has prioritized the development of socioeconomic infrastructure such as roads, electricity supply and water supply, as well as the transfer of technology related to rice production and irrigation. Tanzania is one of the largest recipients of the Japanese aid in Sub-Sahara Africa.

It is easy to find cars made by Japanese companies in cities across Tanzania, and more and more Tanzanians have become interested in Japanese technology and culture. Some Tanzanians even practice Japanese martial arts such as judo, karate and aikido. In most years, a number of Tanzanians are selected by the Japanese government to receive scholarships to study medicine, science, etc. They are one of the symbols of the friendship between the two countries.
 

Since the independence of Tanganyika in 1961, Tanzania and Japan have maintained a mutually beneficial relationship at both the international and bilateral levels. Tanzania is currently pursuing a national strategy to become a middle-income country. In line with the Tanzania's strategy, Japan is assisting Tanzania in creating and promoting a virtuous circle of comprehensive, sustainable, and stable economic growth and poverty reduction.

In particular, in the agriculture and fisheries sectors, which about 70% of Tanzania's workforce is engaged, Japan, through JICA, is supporting rice production, agricultural irrigation and the strengthening of food value chains to achieve food security. Japan also offers assistance in improving the business environment and promoting the idea of KAIZEN to develop the private sector in Tanzania. To lay the foundations for economic and social development, Japan is working to develop basic infrastructure such as transportation, traffic, electricity, and energy by employing Japan's 'Quality Infrastructure', which is also highlighted at TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development). Furthermore, amid growing concerns about inequality, Japan is contributing to the improvement of basic administrative services such as local government, water, and health services. In addition, Japan cooperates in the fields of education, health and medical care, regional development, and refugee assistance through its activities under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGHSP) and contributions to international organizations and NGOs.

Given Tanzania’s rich endowments of natural resources (minerals, natural gas), a growing tourism, and a rapidly expanding population, there are excellent prospects for the country’s future economic development. In recent years, the economy has continued to grow, with steady growth in industries such as mining, information and communications, transport and construction, tourism, and other services, backed by a stable fiscal policy. On the other hand, the poverty rate remains high at 25.7%, and the country continues to face challenges such as employment of young people and improvement of the business environment, in addition to a large land area with low population density, huge basic social infrastructure needs, weak administrative structures and inequalities between urban and rural areas.

The Tanzanian Government is promoting the development of large-scale infrastructure such as roads, ports, railways and other transport and electricity as a national flagship project, while actively promoting economic diplomacy by the Heads of State, and actively promoting exports and attracting FDI in the areas of agriculture, mining, oil and gas, tourism, and construction. Japanese companies in Tanzania have established CCIJT (The Committee on Commerce and Industry of Japanese Society of Tanzania) and exchange information and interact with each other. The Embassy of Japan in Tanzania hosts the Japan-Tanzania Business Dialogue and facilitates dialogue between the two governments and private stakeholders as well as exchange of information to promote trade and investment.