Tanzania seeks bigger Saudi trade opportunities

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA is seeking to narrow a 564 million US dollar (about 1.49tri/-) trade gap with Saudi Arabia, by expanding exports, attracting investment and strengthening value-addition partnerships between the two countries.

Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade, Mr Dennis Londo, said on Tuesday while officiating celebrations marking Saudi Arabia’s 96th National Day in Dar es Salaam.

Mr Londo said the government sees significant opportunities to increase exports to the Kingdom by encouraging investment in strategic sectors and expanding the range of Tanzanian products entering the Saudi market.

He said Tanzania exported goods worth about 58.2bn/- (22 million US dollars) to Saudi Arabia, while imports from the Kingdom averaged 1.55tri/- (586 million US dollars) annually, leaving a substantial trade gap between the two countries. The shilling equivalents are based on the Bank of Tanzania’s average exchange rate of about 2,645/- per US dollar.

Tanzania’s exports to Saudi Arabia include livestock, meat, fish and agricultural products such as coffee, fruits, cashew nuts and flowers, while petroleum and related products account for a significant share of imports from Saudi Arabia.

“These figures reflect a huge gap and serve as a reminder of the much greater potential that lies ahead,” Mr Londo said.

He said many opportunities in strategic sectors remain untapped and urged Saudi investors and businesses to invest in value addition and supply chains to increase the value and diversity of Tanzanian exports while strengthening commercial linkages between the two countries.

“Expanding value addition will create opportunities for Tanzania to increase the value and diversity of products it exports, while stronger supply-chain linkages will facilitate greater participation of businesses from both countries in bilateral trade,” he said.

Mr Londo said Tanzania and Saudi Arabia have already laid the groundwork for deeper economic cooperation through a series of investment and business forums.

He cited the 2024 Tanzania-Saudi Arabia Investment Forum, the January 2025 Saudi Investment Forum and the Tanzania-Saudi Business Forum in Dar es Salaam as milestones that culminated in the establishment of the Tanzania-Saudi Arabia Business Council.

“These engagements demonstrate our shared commitment to strengthen economic cooperation and create practical opportunities for investors and businesses on both sides,” he said.

He added that the government is looking forward to sustaining the momentum through continued high-level visits, political consultations and ministerial engagements aimed at deepening relations between the two countries.

Saudi Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Yahya Okeish said the two countries have significant potential to diversify bilateral trade and develop joint investments and projects, noting that bilateral trade reached approximately 3.07tri/- (1.16 billion US dollars) in 2025.

He said the figure demonstrates the strength of economic ties while highlighting opportunities to further expand commercial cooperation.

“Last August, the SaudiTanzanian Business and Investment Forum was held here in Dar es Salaam, marking an important step in deepening engagement between our business communities and identifying new opportunities,” he said.

Mr Okeish said Saudi Arabia is looking forward to building on that momentum through broader and more sustainable investment partnerships, including joint projects capable of creating longterm economic benefits for both countries.

Saudi National Day is observed annually on September 23 to commemorate the 1932 proclamation by King Abdulaziz ibn Saud that unified the Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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