Belarus tour sees PM Majaliwa pitch Tanzania as investment hub

Minsk/Dar es Salaam. Belarus might not be a European economic powerhouse. The country could not be counted among Tanzania’s largest development partners.

But it was, this week, the destination of Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa’s economic diplomacy tour-de-force, a strategic bid to mobilise foreign investments into Tanzania.

Over a three-day official visit, Mr Majaliwa actively engaged Belarusian industrialists, corporations and institutional leaders, urging them to explore the vast potential Tanzania offers across key economic sectors.

Mr Majaliwa’s diplomatic charm offensive, which concluded on Wednesday, July 23, aimed to draw Belarusian capital into Tanzania’s agriculture, pharmaceuticals, higher education, healthcare, mining, ICT, manufacturing, and tourism industries.

He made a compelling case for the country’s investment readiness, stressing institutional backing and a liberalised environment tailored to facilitate private sector growth.

Speaking to the press in Minsk, the Prime Minister said the primary focus in the bilateral ties between the two countries should be on trade and economic cooperation.

He emphasised that the agreements signed during the visit mark the beginning of a promising bilateral engagement.

He added that Tanzania’s strategic location, at the crossroads of East and Southern Africa, presents Belarusian firms with a gateway to broader regional markets.

Agreements

In a high-level meeting with his host, Belarusian Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin, the two leaders oversaw the signing of four key cooperation instruments.

These included a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on political consultations between the countries’ foreign ministries, as well as MoUs on agriculture and education cooperation.

A separate agreement was also signed between the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) and the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, aimed at boosting trade and investment flows.

As part of his itinerary, Mr Majaliwa toured a number of Belarus’ prominent industrial and research institutions.

These included the Belmedpreparaty pharmaceutical manufacturing company, the Minsk Tractor Plant, the Belarusian State Agrarian Technical University (BSATU), and BELAZ JSC, a global leader in mining vehicles.

He also visited BelOMO, which specialises in optical-electronic technologies, and POZHSNAB LLC, a supplier of emergency rescue and firefighting equipment.

At Belmedpreparaty, Mr Majaliwa expressed Tanzania’s strong interest in Belarusian expertise in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Acknowledging that Tanzania imports about 80 percent of its medical supplies, he highlighted the need to localise pharmaceutical production and invited Belarusian firms to invest in establishing facilities within Tanzania.

“Pharmaceutics is one of the main areas of development in Tanzania, and we will be happy to take advantage of the competences that Belarus can offer in this sector,” he said.

He further noted that Tanzania offers a suite of investment incentives, including tax exemptions, streamlined licensing processes and access to specialised agencies that support investors.

Responding to these overtures, Belarusian Health Minister, Aleksandr Khodzhayev, assured the Tanzanian delegation of Belarus’ capacity to produce high-quality generic medicines.

He noted that more than 90 percent of medicines used in Belarusian hospitals are domestically manufactured to high standards.

Pharmaceuticals

The two countries agreed to facilitate a follow-up visit by a delegation of Belarusian pharmaceutical manufacturers to Tanzania, with the aim of assessing the local market and laying the groundwork for future cooperation.

Mr Khodzhayev described the Tanzanian visit as “timely and significant”, encouraging a phased and collaborative approach in advancing the shared agenda.

Beyond the pharmaceutical sector, Mr Majaliwa extended his investment pitch to manufacturers of agricultural equipment, particularly tractor and farm machinery producers.

He urged them to consider establishing branches and service centres in Tanzania to support mechanisation efforts and bring much-needed technology closer to Tanzanian farmers.

In a symbolic gesture, the Prime Minister laid a wreath at the Belarusian war heroes memorial to honour those who perished in defence of their nation.

He also held talks with representatives from the AFTRADE Union, a coalition of Belarusian firms operating in Africa, to examine broader commercial possibilities and areas of mutual interest.

Mr Majaliwa’s delegation included senior government officials, among them the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Labour, Economy and Investment) from Zanzibar, Mr Shariff Ali Sharriff; Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mr Cosato Chumi; Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Dr Khatibu Kazungu; and Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Stephen Nindi. Tanzania’s Ambassador to Russia and Belarus, Mr Fredrick Kibuta, was also part of the delegation.

The Prime Minister’s visit to Belarus, while relatively under the radar compared to Tanzania’s traditional investment sources, signals a growing ambition in the country’s foreign policy, one that seeks to tap into emerging partnerships, diversify economic allies, and position Tanzania as a competitive destination in global value chains.

As Tanzania intensifies its drive to attract high-value investment and technology, Mr Majaliwa’s mission in Belarus represents a step forward in expanding the country’s diplomatic and commercial footprint in Eastern Europe and beyond.