India and Tanzania elevated their ties to the level of strategic partnership, with a view to further strengthen the bilateral relations and expanding cooperation across various sectors.
Both sides noted that the strategic partnership will help the two countries to jointly work on issues like Maritime Security, Defence Cooperation, Development Partnership, Trade and Investment among others.
Further, the countries signed six pacts to boost cooperation in several key areas and agreed on a five-year roadmap to significantly expand defence engagement during the talks held between PM Narendra Modi and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Noteworthy, at the invitation of Smt. Droupadi Murmu, President of the Republic of India, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania undertook a State Visit to the Republic of India from 8-10 October 2023.
The two leaders commended the existing close, cordial and cooperative relations and noted that India and Tanzania are time-tested partners bound by a long history of shared values and ideals spanning many years.
Besides, the two leaders expressed satisfaction over the successful 2nd Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting held in Arusha on 28th and 29th June 2023 resulting in a five-year Roadmap for Defence Cooperation between the two countries.
Both sides recalled the successful visits of Defence Ministers of Tanzania to India in August 2022 and February 2023, during which both sides agreed to expand scope of defence cooperation.
The Tanzanian side appreciated the deployment of the Indian Military Training Team (IMTT) at the Command and Staff College in Duluti.
Considering the successful hosting of the Defence Expos twice in Dar es Salaam on 31st May 2022 and 2nd October 2023 which saw participation of several Indian defence companies; both sides expressed interests in expanding cooperation in the area of Defence industry.
The two leaders also expressed pleasure at the progress of cooperation between the two sides towards the capacity building of the Tanzanian forces as well as industry.
Acknowledging that India and Tanzania are maritime neighbours who face common maritime security challenges, the two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in maritime security in the Indian Ocean region.
Furthermore, they expressed satisfaction over the first ever India-Tanzania Joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance exercise conducted in July 2023 when the Indian Naval Ship Trishul visited Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam.
They also noted that India and Tanzania held bilateral maritime exercise in October 2022 during the visit of the Indian Naval Ship Tarkash.
The Tanzanian side appreciated the hydrographic surveys of Tanzanian major ports done by India in recent years.
Thus, the two sides agreed to continue cooperation in this area.
Both leaders looked forward to increased interoperability between their Armed Forces.
They noted the regular port calls by the Indian ships to Tanzanian ports and appreciated the conduct of the maiden trilateral maritime exercise involving India, Tanzania and Mozambique in the Mozambique Channel during the visit of the Indian Naval Ship Tarkash in October 2022.
The two leaders commended the signing of the Technical Agreement on sharing White Shipping Information between India and Tanzania.
In addition, the Indian side has also offered collaboration in area of space technologies to Tanzania, which was welcomed by the Tanzanian side.
Further, during the visit, MoUs covering a wide range of sectors were signed. List is enclosed as under:-
MoUs and Agreements exchanged
Source: https://www.mea.gov.in/
