Author: Giza Mdoe

Dar es Salaam hosts Egypt-Tanzania Business Conference. Trade mission comes in wake of Tanzania-Ethiopia energy pact. Trade mission organized by the Egyptian Export Council for Chemical Industries and Fertilizers. In March, Egypt sent powerful business delegation to Tanzania for the inaugural Egypt-Tanzania Business Conference which was held in Dar es Salaam. Ambassador Sherif Ismail, Ambassador of the Arab Republic to Tanzania, inaugurated the event which he termed marked the beginning of a high ranking Egyptian trade mission to the East African country. “The event was organized by the Egyptian Export Council for Chemical Industries and Fertilizers in collaboration with the Export…

Tanzania’s avocado export volume up 74% to 26,826 tonnes in 2023. Exports of the super-fruit earned Tanzania $77.3 million in 2023 and projections show the country realized even more last year. Analysts say increased demand of the fruit is due to growing number of health conscious consumers. The appeal of Tanzania’s avocado in key export markets globally is increasing as global demand for the super-fruit grows amid growing number of health conscious consumers. Health benefits of avocado consumption include improving digestion, lowering the risk of depression, and preventing bone loss, experts report and it is this knowledge that is driving global…

Is the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) serving only large but capital-strapped businesses? How can startups and SMEs benefit from the continental trade bloc? In Tanzania, an alliance of the AfDB and BOAT is set to offer credit guarantee to  SMEs keen on continental trade and expansion. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is the world’s largest free trade area by number of participating countries, second only to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Given it’s size and scope, the AfCFTA has the potential to bolster small business growth across the country and continent, comments economist Prof. Odiop Massaza. The…

Public leaders manage one-third of the global workforce. Character, values, and integrity define great leaders. Thought leaders need to articulate vision and turn it into strategy. Qualities of good leaders determine success. However, while much is known about what makes private sector CEOs successful but research is lacking on the practices of public sector leaders. This despite the fact that, “it is highlited that public sector leaders manage one-third of the global workforce, around a quarter of global GDP, and services that are essential for societies,” highlights a report by the research institute McKinsey. The research looks at a database…

The U.S. plans to replace USAID with a new agency, the U.S. Agency for International Humanitarian Assistance (USAIHA), sparking concerns over the abrupt shutdown, massive job losses, and the future of global aid. Critics argue the transition lacks empathy, strategic communication, and foresight, with fears that the narrow focus of USAIHA may undermine U.S. soft power and global influence. Analysts urge the agency to be independent, inclusive of crisis assessments like climate change, and responsive to global needs if it is to succeed. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is being replaced by a newly proposed aid agency—the…

DRC, Indonesia, Chile in talks to form ‘critical minerals OPEC’. DRC cobalt export ban rises prices significantly. DRC to leverage its dominant market position through ban. The DRC move to ban cobalt exports has not only sparked price increase of the critical mineral market, but, it has also set off talks of the set up of a ‘critical minerals OPEC.’ Reports show that the DRC, Indonesia, and Chile are key players in the global critical minerals landscape. DownToEarth, a resource review agency notes in a recent report Critical minerals, development and agency: Are resource-rich countries in control of their mineral…

DRC cobalt ban is steadily spiking prices for the critical mineral. DRC, Indonesia, Chile in talks to form a ‘critical minerals OPEC’. To counter the blow, US starts domestic refining. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has banned the export of cobalt in a move designed to push prices up. And, it is working: “There’s been a significant jump,” said Thomas Kavanagh, editor of battery metals at Argus Media, a market intelligence firm. According to the market expert, after the export ban was instituted in February, “…the price of a key cobalt compound rose by more than 80 per…

The AfDB and ECOWAS have signed a $11.78 million grant to boost rice production across West Africa, aiming to reduce the region’s reliance on costly imports and enhance food security. The five-year REWARD-ECOWAS project will support policy reforms, input regulation, and digital monitoring to strengthen regional rice value chains. This initiative aligns with broader strategies to increase agricultural productivity and build resilience against global market shocks. Commercial rice production is at the centre of the African Development Bank’s renewed push for food security in Africa, following the signing of a $11.78 million financing agreement with the Economic Community of West…

U.S. President Donald Trump reversed his controversial tariff policy after intense pressure from Republicans, business leaders, and a tanking bond market. The tariffs had triggered global financial turmoil, job losses, and sharp stock declines before Trump finally admitted the need for flexibility. Though the markets rebounded after the pause, the episode exposed the impulsive and chaotic nature of the policy’s creation and execution. Trump tariffs took a dramatic turn this week, as President Donald Trump reversed course under a storm of pressure from Republican allies, business leaders, and even close confidants—all warning that his hardline trade stance was steering the…

Tanzania is intensifying efforts to shift from subsistence to commercial agriculture by tripling its agriculture budget and investing in new grain storage infrastructure. Recently, President Samia Suluhu Hassan launched the construction of 28 rural warehouses and announced plans to boost national grain storage capacity to 3 million tonnes by 2030 to address food insecurity and reduce post-harvest losses. With an anticipated bumper maize harvest, Tanzania is also engaging regional trade opportunities while tightening export restrictions to protect local farmers and stabilize prices. Tanzania has reiterated its commitment to transitioning from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture. To achieve this ambitious goal,…