Finland and Tanzania

Bilateral relations

Political relations:

Minister Paavo Väyrynen and Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda. Mtwara, 2007. Photo: Embassy of Finland

The relationship between Finland and Tanzania is exceptionally close and warm. Recently Finland and Tanzania have extended the partnership to important processes on global governance (Helsinki Process, ILO Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation)

Primary school, Morogoro

Development Cooperation:

Tanzania is Finland's longest standing partner in development cooperation. Today Tanzania is one of Finland's eight long-term development partner countries and amongst the main receivers of aid. The development cooperation between Finland and Tanzania started officially in 1962, when Finland joined the Nordic Tanganyika Project.

The government-to-government Finnish aid priorities in Tanzania are 1) forestry and environment, agriculture, and bio-energy, 2) regional and local development, 3) budget support, 4) infrastructure focusing on energy, and 5) innovation and technology (ICT) and a regional focus on Mtwara and Lindi and Zanzibar.

Finnish bilateral development aid to Tanzania totalled at 34 million euros in the year 2009, and this amount will increase to 35 million euros in the year 2010.

Trade and economic relations:

Finland currently exports to Tanzania machinery and transport equipment and fertilizers. The amount of exports to Tanzania in 2008 was 61,9 million euros. The amount of imports from Tanzania in 2008 was 2,9 million euros. Exports to Finland consist mainly of coffee and tea.

Cultural relations:

Werner.Bros on a tour to Tanzania in 2008. Photo: Embassy of Finland

Finland and Tanzania signed the Cultural Cooperation Agreement on 12.12.1988. In the past years there has been more cultural cooperation between the countries by individual persons, non-governmental organisations and institutions. The Cultural Cooperation is funded by individuals or institutions, also support of the Government of Finland has been given by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education. Embassy has supported the Finnish-Tanzanian cultural projects and the Zanzibar International Film Festival, Tanzania Culture Trust Fund (Mfuko), Sibelius Academy and Bagamoyo Art School from the Local Cooperation Fund.

Agreements between the Governments of Finland and Tanzania:

Agreement on general terms and procedures for development co-operationTanzania, 24th February 2005 (PDF,11pages, 4.99Mb)

Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investments, 19th June 2001(PDF,11pages,4.05Mb)

Convention for Avoidance of Double Taxation, 12th May 1976 (PDF,24 pages, 9.24Mb)

Latest high level visits from Finland to Tanzania:

Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, March 2010
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Paavo Väyrynen, Helsinki Process, November 2007
Finnish delegation of Inter-Party Dialogue on Democracy, April 2005
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Paula Lehtomäki, Nordic-Africa Initiative, January 2005

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Paula Lehtomäki, Official visit, August-September 2004

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Erkki Tuomioja, Helsinki Process, August 2004

President Martti Ahtisaari, International Youth Foundation, March 2004

State Visit of President Tarja Halonen, February 2003

Latest high level visits from Tanzania to Finland:

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, June 2006
State Visit of President Benjamin Mkapa, September 2005

Official Visit of President Amani Karume, March 2005

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdulkader Shareef, Nordic–Africa Ministerial meeting , Helsinki Process, January 2005

Official visit of Regional Commissioners of Mtwara and Lindi, June 2004
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Jakaya Kikwete, Helsinki Process, October 2003
Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Juma Ngasongwa, Official visit, October 2003