In a forum in Belgrade Heads of State meeting rev up Tanzania and Serbia trade cooperation that has been on the decline in recent years.
To achieve this goal, the two countries agree to establish Joint Economic Commission.
Plans are also underway to establish direct flights between Tanzania and Serbia.

Tanzania and Serbia have inked several bilateral treaties aimed at among other things, growing trade between the two countries. Presidents of the two states signed the deal during the Serbia–Tanzania Business Forum held recently ahead of marking the 65th anniversary of the First Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement, held in Belgrade, Serbia.

Zanzibar President and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi was hosted by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić at the Palace of Serbia. “Tanzania will continue to strengthen its relations and cooperation with the Republic of Serbia… opportunities abound in trade and investment, agriculture, tourism and the Blue Economy,” said President Dr. Mwinyi.

He underscored that the two nations have a long standing friendship and cooperation built on mutual respect and solidarity, that was established between Tanzania’s first president Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere and Serbia’s Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito.

Dr. Mwinyi emphasized the need for direct air services between Serbia and Tanzania. He said direct flights will help to promote trade, tourism and economic relations between the two countries.

The president also commended Serbia’s decision to open a permanent embassy in Tanzania. He reassured his counterpart that Tanzania has allocated land in the capital city Dodoma specifically for the construction of the embassy offices and the ambassador’s residence.

On his part, Serbia’s President Vučić reaffirmed his country’s readiness to strengthen cooperation with Tanzania. He reassured stakeholders that his government is working on various project proposals meant to among other things, deepen bilateral relations between the two countries.

Dr Mwinyi is in Belgrade representing President Samia Suluhu Hassan at a Special High-Level Commemorative Meeting marking 65 years since the First Summit of Heads of State of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

In his comments Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia Mihailo Vesović noted that; “Tanzania, with its strategic location and a population of around 70 million, offers business opportunities that go far beyond its tourism potential.”

Attended by more than 20 Serbian companies the forum served as a platform for them to explore business interests and opportunities for investment in Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar island

“Tanzania, with its strategic location and a population of around 70 million, offers business opportunities that go far beyond its tourism potential,” Vesović said.

He said Tanzania and Serbia had a long history of friendship and cooperation, built on mutual respect and solidarity, noting that the relationship between the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere and former Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito had laid an important foundation for bilateral relations.

Also Read: Tanzania throws its bond market wide open to the global investors

Tanzania and Serbia trade pacts

Tanzania and Serbia are looking to grow trade and investment in agriculture, food processing, logistics, the pharmaceutical industry and higher value-added manufacturing. Zanzibar President Dr. Mwinyi was in Belgrade, Serbia representing Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the Special High-Level Commemorative Meeting marking 65 years since the First Summit of Heads of State of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

The president reaffirmed that Tanzania is a stable and promising market open for business and investment, and is an important gateway to the regional market. He reminded Serbian investors and businesses that Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania are not two markets competing for investment, rather, they are two parts of a single value chain.

He pointed out that as a regional gateway, Tanzania offers Serbia access to a regional market of over 300 million people, and the larger African market of more than 1.5 billion consumers. Seconding the president, Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo commended the ministers’ meeting on the sidelines of the Heads of State gathering.

He met with Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and discussed implementation plans to strengthen the cooperation cooperation sought after by the Heads of State. The ministers discussed avoidance of double taxation, easing procedures, permits, financing and establishing local partnerships.

They inked agreements to improve institutional and business cooperation, and agreed on organizing a business mission of Serbian companies to Tanzania. They agreed to support Tanzania’s ambition to shift from production of raw materials to processing and production of value-added goods.

The ministers agreed on supporting Tanzania to develop agricultural machinery and technologies, as well as specialized seeds. They further agreed on developing software solutions, artificial intelligence, automation and cybersecurity.

With Serbia’s help, Tanzania will speed up development of it’s information and communications technology sector, and expand digitalization and the digital economy, as well as general transfer of knowledge and advanced technologies.

Tanzania and Serbia trade relations

According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), as of 2024, Serbia exported over USD493,000 to Tanzania. The main products that Serbia exported to Tanzania included Rolled Tobacco (USD348,000), Animal Food (USD44,000), and furniture (USD38,900).

According to the OEC, over the past 5 years, exports from Serbia to Tanzania have increased at an annualized rate of 8.45 percent growing from USD329,000 in 2019 to USD493,000 in 2024.

On the other hand, in that same period Tanzania exported USD466,000 to Serbia. Tanzania exported to Serbia sowing seeds (USD213,000), raw tobacco (USD133,000), and tropical fruits (USD79.6,000).

However, the report also shows that in the said time, over the past 5 years, exports from Tanzania to Serbia have decreased at an annualized rate of 24.3 percent, from USD1.87 million in 2019 to a low USD466,000 in 2024.

Notably, Serbia ranks 35 in the Economic Complexity Index while Tanzania ranks 119. Also, while Serbia recorded exports of USD34.8 billion and ranks 68 globally while Tanzania export volumes amount USD11.9 billion ranking 96 globally.

To grow the reduced trade, in particular Tanzania’s reduced exports to Serbia, the Heads of State and ministers meeting agreed to actively scale up their bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

To achieve the intended trade growth, the two countries agreed to establish a Joint Economic Commission. The agreement to form a Joint Economic Commission was passed during talks between Tanzania’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo and Serbia’s Marko Đurić. To realize the goal, the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade) met with Serbian diplomatic representatives and agreed on expanding market access for local farmers and building industrial partnerships.

The two countries have also played ground for discussions regarding potential cooperation between Air Tanzania and Air Serbia to establish direct passenger and cargo flights. The direct flights will open up a gateway for Tanzanian goods into Europe and on the other hand, bring Serbian business into Africa.