Speaking about the agricultural exports to Tanzania from India, Kundariya said that in 2014-15 India exported US$ 62.72 million agricultural produce to Tanzania, which mainly consisted of sugarcane, sugar, rice and ethanol. He added that Tanzania is home to thousands of persons of Indian origin, which further shows the vibrant relation that the two countries share.

While introducing the high-powered delegation accompanying the President of Tanzania, Juliet R Kairuki, CEO, Tanzania Investment Centre, said that the visiting delegation's focus was on promoting investment and trade opportunities that were ready to be explored in Tanzania. The delegation looks forward to attract India businesses to invest in Tanzania.

She added that Tanzania ranks among the 20 fastest growing economies in the world. The government had encouraged private sector led growth through restoration of market forces and the reforms resulted in positive growth and impressive macro-economic indicators, which led to the fall of inflation rates.

As the Session Chair, Sidharth Birla, Immediate Past President, FICCI & Chairman Xpro India Limited, said that Tanzania had emerged as one of the fastest growing economies and India shared a robust bilateral relationship with the country. Tanzania offers infinite investment prospects and is one of the top destinations for FDI. Hence, India should take advantage of this opportune time and invest in Tanzania.

Ashok Sharma, Member CII-Africa Committee and President and Chief Executive, Agri South Asia & Africa Operations, Member of the Group Executive Board, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, said that promoting sectors such as pharmaceuticals and healthcare, manufacturing, IT, skill development, agriculture and infrastructure, seems to be the crux of the Indo-Tanzanian Trade & Investment agenda. Indian industry with its proven excellence in Africa has developed technology that is ‘Triple A' - "Affordable, Adaptable, Appropriate". 

Ambuj Chaturvedi, Chairman, India-Africa Business Promotion Council, ASSOCHAM & Executive Director, Overseas Infrastructure Alliance (OIA), said that 2015 promises to be a year of a new beginning with a multi-faceted India-Africa engagement. Many countries may have higher bilateral trade with Tanzania, but what sets apart India is the focus on innovative capacity building programmes, employment generation, self-sustainability and deployment of ICT, the country's forte, to help build a knowledge economy in the African continent, especially in Tanzania.

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