Browsing: Germany- Africa relations

Germany scouts for investments in Tanzania
  • In his business tour, President Steinmeier is leading government officials and investors from over 12 German companies.
  • Tanzania expects to see an increase in trade relations with Germany, which has remains in favour of the European country. 
  • To further cement bilateral ties, German has agreed to return the remains of Tanzanian freedom fighters held in museums in Germany.

Germany’s President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, is on a three-day state visit to Tanzania. With the high-profile visit, Tanzania expects to see an increase in trade ties with Germany, a relationship that has for decades remained in favour of the European economic giant.

President Steinmeier is leading government officials and investors from over 12 German companies. Tanzania hopes that his visit will serve to strengthen diplomatic, development and bilateral trade relations. Germany and Tanzania have shared a long history given that the later was a colony of the former until 1919.

President Steinmeier pledges

According to Deutschland, German companies long concentrated only on South Africa, but this is changing. Over the past eight years, the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) has opened not less than five new branch offices. Apart from South Africa, top investment destinations include Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, Tanzania, and Mozambique.

Alongside their primary business, German companies are also involved in numerous initiatives to support the African economy and combat poverty. Germany's Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA) has founded the "Skilled Workers for Africa" initiative in Botswana, Kenya, and Nigeria. Germany's successful dual vocational training model serves as an example in Africa. At the same time, Germans benefit from collaboration with local partners, who enable them to access new markets. Local shareholders are essential in some countries.

To strengthen their cross-continental network and promote a value and interest-based exchange, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung (HSS) supported by the…