India-Tanzania bilateral trade hits $9.02 billion in 2025–26, set to grow
Synopsis
India-Tanzania bilateral trade crossed $9 billion for the first time, reaching $9.02 billion in 2025–26. At the fifth JTC session in Dar es Salaam, both sides mapped out cooperation across mining, pharma, digital infrastructure, and shipbuilding — with over $1.1 billion already committed to water projects benefiting 6 million Tanzanians.
Key Takeaways
India-Tanzania bilateral trade rose to $9.02 billion in 2025–26 , up from $8.64 billion in 2024–25.
The fifth India-Tanzania JTC session was held in Dar es Salaam , co-chaired by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and Dr.
Samwel William Shelukindo .
India's Lines of Credit exceeding $1.1 billion for water infrastructure are set to benefit over 6 million people across 24 towns .
IIT Madras Zanzibar was highlighted as a growing regional hub for science and technology education.
Key focus areas include mining, pharmaceuticals, digital public infrastructure (India Stack), shipbuilding, and renewable energy .
A CII-led Indian business delegation participated in an India-Tanzania Joint Business Meet alongside the JTC session.
Bilateral trade between India and Tanzania reached $9.02 billion in 2025–26, up from $8.64 billion in 2024–25, the government announced on Friday, 1 May, reaffirming a shared commitment to deepen trade, investment, and economic cooperation between the two nations. The milestone was underscored at the fifth session of the India-Tanzania Joint Trade Committee (JTC), held in Dar es Salaam.
Key Outcomes of the JTC Meeting
The JTC session was co-chaired by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and Dr. Samwel William Shelukindo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania. Discussions spanned a wide range of sectors, including trade settlement in local currencies, long-term business visas for Indian businesspersons, and regulatory collaboration in pharmaceuticals.
The committee also identified health, AYUSH, education, and shipbuilding as priority areas for capacity building. According to a Commerce Ministry statement, cooperation in the mining sector — including geological exploration, value addition in the gemstone sector, and regulatory developments related to gemstone exports — featured prominently in the deliberations.
Education, Digital Infrastructure and MSME Cooperation
The role of IIT Madras Zanzibar as a growing regional hub for higher education in science and technology was highlighted during the session. Enhanced collaboration in the MSME sector and exploration of new institutional partnerships were also emphasised, with vocational training, industrial research, innovation, and sustainable technologies identified as promising avenues.
Developments in digital cooperation were reviewed under an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with a specific focus on digital public infrastructure, including India Stack. India also offered its expertise in shipbuilding, highlighting shipyard development and port infrastructure alongside potential partnerships with Tanzanian institutions.
Development Cooperation: Over $1.1 Billion in Lines of Credit
India's development cooperation through Lines of Credit exceeding $1.1 billion for water infrastructure projects in Tanzania was spotlighted. These projects, currently under implementation, are expected to benefit over 6 million people across 24 towns. Continued collaboration in expanding water supply networks remains a stated priority.
The importance of fisheries and marine resources in supporting economic growth, livelihoods, and food security was also underscored. Cooperation in renewable energy, natural gas, biofuels, and power infrastructure was discussed, further broadening the bilateral agenda.
Business Delegation and Joint Business Meet
A delegation of Indian businesspersons, led by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), accompanied Commerce Secretary Agrawal. An India-Tanzania Joint Business Meet was organised alongside the JTC session, with participation from leading Indian and Tanzanian business representatives. Agrawal expressed appreciation for the accelerating trade partnership and the growing synergy between the two markets.
This comes amid India's broader push to deepen economic ties across East Africa, with Tanzania emerging as one of its most active bilateral partners on the continent. The trajectory of bilateral trade — growing by nearly $400 million in a single year — signals momentum that both governments appear keen to sustain through institutional frameworks and sector-specific agreements.
Point of View
But the more telling detail is the breadth of sectors now on the bilateral table — from gemstone value chains and shipbuilding to India Stack and oncology exchange programmes. This is no longer a commodity-driven trade relationship; it is being deliberately institutionalised. The IIT Madras Zanzibar footprint is particularly significant: it plants India's soft power in East Africa's education ecosystem at a time when China's infrastructure diplomacy dominates the region's headlines. The real test will be whether the Lines of Credit water projects deliver on their 6-million-beneficiary promise — and whether that translates into durable goodwill rather than just a balance-sheet entry.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current bilateral trade volume between India and Tanzania?
Bilateral trade between India and Tanzania reached $9.02 billion in 2025–26, rising from $8.64 billion in 2024–25, according to the Indian government. The growth of nearly $400 million in a single year reflects an accelerating economic partnership.
What was discussed at the India-Tanzania Joint Trade Committee meeting?
The fifth JTC session in Dar es Salaam covered trade settlement in local currencies, long-term business visas, pharmaceutical regulation, mining and gemstone cooperation, digital public infrastructure, shipbuilding, renewable energy, and capacity building in health and education.
How much has India committed in Lines of Credit for Tanzania?
India has committed Lines of Credit exceeding $1.1 billion for water infrastructure projects in Tanzania. These projects are currently under implementation and are expected to benefit over 6 million people across 24 towns.
What is IIT Madras Zanzibar and why is it significant?
IIT Madras Zanzibar is an offshore campus of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, positioned as a regional hub for higher education in science and technology in East Africa. Its role was highlighted at the JTC session as part of India's broader education and soft-power engagement with Tanzania.
Which Indian industry body accompanied the Commerce Secretary to Tanzania?
A delegation of Indian businesspersons led by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) accompanied Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal. The delegation participated in an India-Tanzania Joint Business Meet held alongside the JTC session.
