India and Tanzania in the Geopolitics of Indian Ocean

* Dr. Mohammed Khalid

The Indian Ocean region contains sub-areas such as Africa, the

Arab World, South Asia, the Southeast Asia and Australia, whose

diverse cultures, varying strategic positions and different economic

levels preclude any cohesive political or cultural integration. In spite of

diversity, Indian Ocean and its littoral possess considerable parallels and

not withstanding the low end of economic development, increasing

geopolitical significance. In its diversity there run very strong strains of

unity derived out of religion, race, common history of colonial

subjugation, denial of development, modernization etc. The Ocean

accounts for the transportation of the highest tonnage of commodities in

the world reflecting the dependence of a large number of countries on its

waters. The unhindered use of Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC)

and security of Ocean routes is especially significant for the movement

of goods, especially oil from its shores to the countries of the Region

and rest of the world. Certain areas of Indian Ocean region are one of the

world’s least understood, yet its importance in geopolitics and

international relations is greater than ever before. The geopolitics of the

Indian Ocean region provides the backdrop to the engrossing power

play, and displays the need for regional cooperation in its maritime

realm. There is considerable value to look at the Indian Ocean as a

region for future analysis of bilateral and multilateral regional

cooperation. Few countries in the Indian Ocean command an

overarching geographical presence and India is one of them. Crowning

the Ocean realm, India has historically been a source of religion,

language, and culture for the lands and peoples of its littoral. Today

when India is at the threshold of being

*Reader in Political Science, Department of Evening Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh,

India

22

a globally recognized economic, political, military and technological power, it

has the primary responsibility to wedge a network of cooperative relationship

with the countries of the Indian Ocean Region in general and developing

countries of this region in particular. This essay attempts to understand India’s

relationship with Tanzania --an important East African country on the Indian

Ocean littoral.

Located in Eastern Africa, United Republic of Tanzania (Jamhuri ya

Muungano wa Tanzania in Swahili) is the largest among the East African

countries. Formerly a German colony, then a League of Nations mandate and

United Nations Trust Territory administered by the United Kingdom, Tanzania

is bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the

Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi and

Mozambique to the south, with its eastern borders alongside the Indian Ocean.1

The name Tanzania is a portmanteau of Tanganyika and Zanzibar --the two

sovereign republics-- who came together to form the United Republic of

Tanzania on 26 April, 1964.2 The country has three physiographic regions

namely the islands (Zanzibar, Pemba and other offshore islands) and the coastal

plains to the east; the inland saucer-shaped plateau; and the highlands. The

Great Rift Valley (running from north-east of Africa through central Tanzania)

and Africa’s highest and snow-capped mountain Kilimanjaro with a height of

5892 meters are other geographical landmarks of the country.3 Rich in animal

life Tanzania is home to the world famous National Parks and Game Reserves

which attract about 800000 tourists from across the world every year. Dar es

Salaam, the commercial capital and seat of government is major sea port for

mainland Tanzania and serves neighbouring land-locked countries of Malawi,

Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda, as well as Congo. Tanzania Railway

Corporation (TRC) provides a vital link between Dar es Salaam on the Indian

Ocean to Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika and Mwanza on Lake Victoria. It also

works as an important corridor and import-export route for those countries.4 Its

ports and railways not only provide these land locked

23

countries an outlet to the Ocean and the world at large, this dependence

considerably increases Tanzania’s geopolitical importance.

Tanzania has vast amounts of natural resources including gold, diamonds, coal,

iron ore, uranium, nickel, chrome, tin, platinum, coltan, and other minerals. It is

the third-largest producer of gold in Africa after South Africa and Ghana.

Tanzania is also known for the Tanzanite gemstones (identified by an Indian

geologist in 1967 in Mererani region near Mount Kilimanjaro). Diamonds and

gold are currently the most important of the minerals being exploited in

Tanzania. Large deposits of coal and iron ore exist in the southern region, but

mining operates on a small scale.5 The country has natural gas deposits found in

the Songo Songo island area, in south-east of Dar es Salaam. Forestland

constitutes one of the most substantial natural resources of the country. Forests

cover about 39 per cent of Tanzania, mainly in the south and west-central areas.

These include savanna woodland and montane forest (containing hardwoods

like mahogany and camphorwood) and much of this forest has high biodiversity

and endemism --especially in the southern highlands.6 Inventory of its natural

resources can make one blindly believe that Tanzania must be a rich country.

Contrarily however, lack of science and technology, thus industry; lack of

professional and technological institutions, thus trained HRD; and lack of

finances and planning has rendered it poor.

One of the poorest countries in the world, Tanzania is among the bottom ten

percent of the world's economies in terms of per capita income. Its GDP stood

at US$20.5 billion in 2008 which had quadrupled since 1988. According to

2008 estimates its GDP per capita was US$1300 placing the country at 199th

position in the world.7 The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and

bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's deteriorated

economic infrastructure. These loans and credits include, 200 million as Fourth

Poverty Reduction Support Credit in May 2006; 15 million

24

for Financial Sector Support Project, in June 2006; 90 million for Agricultural

Sector Development Project, in June 2006; 200 million for Water Sector

Support Project, in February 2007; 42 million for Tanzania, Zanzibar Basic

Education Improvement Project, in April 2007; 190 million as Fifth Poverty

Reduction Support Credit, in April 2007; 60 million for Health Sector

Development Project-Phase II, in July 2007; 105 million for Energy

Development and Access Expansion Project, in December 2007; 100 million for

Tanzania: Science and Technology Higher Education, May 2008; Sixth Poverty

Reduction Support Credit, October 2008; and 190 million equivalent as

Seventh Poverty Reduction Support Credit, in June 2009.

Growth picked up in industrial production in 1991-2000 and output of minerals,

led by gold has increased substantially. Recent banking reforms have helped

increase private sector growth and investment.8 Its economy is heavily

dependent on agriculture (comprising crops, livestock, forestry and hunting)

which accounts for more than half of the GDP, provides 85 percent of exports,

and employs 80% of the work force. Most of the world production of cloves

comes from Zanzibar and Pemba islands. Coffee, cotton, sisal, tea, tobacco,

peppers and cashew nuts are the main export crops. Tanzania’s principal food

crops include cassava, maize, sugar cane, rice, sorghum, millet, wheat, sweet

potatoes, and plantains. Just 4 percent of the land area was under agriculture in

2003.9 About 80 percent of country’s 37 million population working on a merely

4 percent of 945,100 sq km land area makes the situation of agriculture sector

pathetic, pushing Tanzania in to the least developed country category.

Tanzania's industrial sector is one of the smallest in Africa. Manufacturing

increased by an average of 1.1 percent after 1980 and by 1.7 percent between

1988 and 1998. It accounted for 6.8percent of GDP which increased to 17

percent in 2000.10 Industry is mainly limited to processing agricultural products

and light consumer goods. It processes raw materials, including coffee, grain,

sisal, kapok,

25

jute, and coir. The country also has industry related to textiles, shoes, cement,

fertilizers etc.11 Exports were estimated at US$2.413 billion in 2008 and chief

exports from the country include coffee, cotton, cashew nuts, minerals, tobacco,

and sisal. India shared 10.1 percent of Tanzanian exports in 2008, followed by

China 7.2 percent, Japan 6.4 percent, UAE 5.6 percent, Netherlands 5.4 percent,

and Germany 5 percent. Tanzania’s imports were estimated at US$6.259 billion

in 2008 which include consumer goods, machinery and transportation

equipment, industrial raw materials, and crude oil.12 China shared 14.5 percent,

of Tanzania’s imports in 2008, followed by South Africa 7.3 percent, Kenya 7.2

percent, India 6.3 percent, and UAE 6.1 percent. Under the reforms initiated by

the government more than 300 state-owned companies owning tobacco and

cashew farms, mines, breweries and cigarette industries were privatized.13

Since its formation Tanzania has taken a leadership role in East Africa. The

country played an active role in the Organization for African Unity (OAU) and

the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)14 and it supported

liberation movements throughout southern Africa. Tanzania has maintained

close ties with Uganda, Mozambique and Zambia and has played a significant

role to establish the East African Community (EAC) in 1999 which consisted of

Republics of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. The EAC has its

headquarters and secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania.15 To further integrate the

region, Tanzania took the lead to start the process of creating East African

Common Market as well as the East African Federation. These moves aim to

create a powerful and sustainable East African economic and political bloc.

Tanzania has tried to develop close relationship with Uganda and Kenya. It had

uneasy relations with neighbours like Rwanda, Burundi, and Congo during

1990s over refugee crises which was coped by mobilizing international

humanitarian support to repatriate the refugees to their respective countries and

establish regional peace.16

Tanzania has a coastline of 1,424 km. With its territorial sea extending up to 12

nautical miles (22 km.) and exclusive economic zone up to 200 nautical miles

26

(370 km.), it has an extended presence in the Indian Ocean. Its island groups of

Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar Archipelago extends its oceanic sphere and gives

Tanzania an important place in the Indian Ocean. Zanzibar in past has been of

strategic importance for export of ivory and slave trade. It has also been a place

of cultural fusion and harmony --as seen in The Stone Town of Zanzibar--

which developed due to intense seaborne trading activity between Asia and

Africa on its shores.17 It has played a strategic role in the freedom movement

against the colonial rule in 1960s.

India-Tanzania relations Relations between India and Tanzania can be traced back to about 2000

years when Indian travelers used to visit there mainly for trade. During the 19th

century Indian population in Tanganyika and Zanzibar together numbered about

1,00,000 and many of them were involved in politics, administration, and

finance besides trade and commerce of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. This foray of

Indian population has continued ever since. Tanzania at present has a large and

economically effective Indian descendent community numbering about 40,000

concentrated in major cities. A vast majority of them are from Gujarat (mainly

from Kutch and Kathiawad). They are involved in trade and industry and their

presence has helped in building relations between the two countries. (Mahatma

Gandhi halted at Zanzibar during his journey to South Africa in 1893.)18 It was

due to traditionally close and friendly relations and India’s quest to develop

cooperation with newly independent countries of Asia and Africa that it sent its

first high commissioner to Dar es Salaam (M A Villodi) in November 1961,

some days even prior to Tanganyika formally gaining independence. Its

founding President Julius Nyerere and Jawaharlal Nehru shared ideological

commitment to anti-colonialism, anti-racism, socialism and Non-alignment.

During the Presidentship of Nyerere (1961-85)

both the countries frequently exchanged high level visits. Nyerere was conferred

with Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding in 1973 and he

was conferred first International Gandhi Peace Prize in 1995.19

27

Throughout the Cold War period, India and Tanzania shared common

perceptions and views on various international issues. Julius Nyerere was one of

the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and, during the Cold

War era, Tanzania played an important role in regional and international

organizations, such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the G-77, and the

Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union). One of Africa's best-

known elder statesmen, Nyerere was personally active in many of these

organizations, and served chairman of the OAU (1984-85) and chairman of six

front-line states concerned with eliminating apartheid in Southern Africa. In the

post-Cold War period, both countries have strived to strengthen friendship by

creating avenues for economic co-operation and partnership. To develop mutual

cooperation both set up a Joint Commission on Economic, Technical and

Scientific Cooperation in 1966. The Commission has met several times to

increase cooperation in economic and scientific fields. Its seventh session was

held in New Delhi from 13-14 January 2009.20

The two countries have also signed several agreements in different fields to

promote mutual cooperation. These agreements include: Agreement on Cultural

Cooperation (17 January, 1975); MOU to establish the bilateral Joint

Commission (17 January, 1975); Agreement of Avoidance of Double Taxation

and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income (5

September, 1979); Air Services Agreement (2 July, 1995); MOU on Technical

Cooperation in the Field of Posts and Telecommunication (12 December, 1996);

Trade Agreement (14 January, 2000); MOU on Foreign office Consultations (25

May, 2001); Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine (16

December, 2002); MOU on Cooperation in the

field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors (16 December, 2002); Exchange

Programme on Cooperation in the Field of Education (27 April, 2003) etc.21

Trade and investment

28

Trade between India and Tanzania is centuries old. Economic reforms taken up

by both the countries and the Indian community's important role in Tanzania's

overseas trade has contributed to a rapid growth in bilateral trade during 1990s.

India has regularly participated in Dar es Salaam International trade Fair. A

Joint Trade Committee was set up between the two in July 2003 and its 1st

Meeting was held in Dar-es-Salaam. At its second meeting held at New Delhi in

May 2007 India expressed its recognition that Tanzania is an important country

which could fulfill India’s increasing requirements of gold and rough diamonds,

cashew, and leather etc. Both pledged for a long-term relationship with regards

to sourcing of raw materials.22 Trade between India and Tanzania more than

doubled from US$166 million in 2001-02 to almost US$363 million in 2005-06

and the upward trend is continuing. India's imports from Tanzania accounted for

US$109 million in 2003-04 and reached at 164.56 million in 2007-08. Similarly

exports to Tanzania were valued at around US$175.78 million in 2003-04 which

had reached at US$587.60 million in 2007-08.23 According to India-Tanzania

Joint Commission on Economic, Technical and Scientific Cooperation (figure

released at its seventh meeting), bilateral trade between the two countries has

increased rapidly during the last few years and in 2009 it stands at US$750

million. India ranks among the top three countries in both the exports and

imports of Tanzania.24 India's has further potential to export pharmaceuticals,

transport equipment, electrical machinery, construction material/machinery,

textiles and garments, ICT hardware and software to Tanzania. Import and

export figures for the last five years are shown in table ‘1’ and ‘2’.25

Table-1

Trade between India and Tanzania(In US$ Million)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Trade Share in Tanzania’s Percent

29

Trade2003-04 285.10 0.202004-05 305.53 0.162005-06 363.21 0.142006-07 386.63 0.122007-08 752.16 0.18

Source:- http://www.commerce.nic.in/eidb/iecnt.asp

Table -2

India’s Exports and Imports to Tanzania

Exports Share of Total Imports Share of Total Exports (Percent) Imports (Percent)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2003-04 175.78 0.28 109.32 0.14

2004-05 173.88 0.21 131.65 0.12

2005-06 243.45 0.24 119.76 0.08

2006-07 288.60 0.23 98.03 0.05

2007-08 587.60 0.36 164.56 0.07_____________________________________________________________________

__Source:- http://www.commerce.nic.in/eidb/iecnt.asp

Tanzania invited Indian companies to invest in areas such as power, leather,

horticulture and infrastructure etc. and also sought India’s assistance to establish a

cyber city in Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) area.26 According to Tanzanian

government statistics, during 1990-2006, 118 Indian companies invested a total of

US$825 million

in Tanzania. Reliance Industries acquired a majority stake and management control of

Tanzania’s major oil company Gulf Africa Petroleum Corporation (GAPCO).27 In

2007 RITES Ltd. of India signed a contract with Parastatal Sector Reform

Commission (PSRC) on September 3rd 2007 to operate passenger and freight services

30

on a concession basis for 25 years. The railway will be run as Tanzania Railway Ltd,

with the government owning a 49 percent stake.28 Bank of Baroda has set up branches

in Dar es Salaam and Arusha and Bank of India has opened a branch in Dar es

Salaam. Tata International has signed an MOU with the National Development

Corporation of Tanzania for setting up a soda ash factory at Lake Natron. Tanzindia

Assurance Company Ltd was launched on November 24, 2003 at Dar es Salaam as

the culmination of a long effort by a consortium of Indian insurance companies.29

Indian automobile major Mahindra and Mahindra is gearing to set up a $1 billion

tractor plant in Tanzania. India has set up a Small Scale Industry Centre and IT

Centre in Dar es Salaam which has commenced in 2009. The BHEL has offered to set

up two 125 MW gas or coal/oil based power plants in Tanzania. India’s National

Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has offered to provide technical assistance to

upgrade the efficiency of power plants and to train the Tanzanian technical

personnel.30 India also intends to take up the projects like construction of roads,

bridges, hospitals, mining, agro-processing, gem cutting and polishing in Tanzania.

Aptech, Tatas, Avon Bicycles, among others are important Indian collaborators in

Tanzania.

In the Agriculture Sector India has extended a Line of Credit of US$ 40 million for

export of Indian agricultural implements to Tanzania. During the visit of the President

of India to Tanzania in 2004, India waived some of the credits extended in the 1970s

and 1980s.31 President Kalam expressed India’s willingness to share expertise in

hybrid varieties of rice and maize, and. assured assistance under India’s 'Focus Africa'

programme.32 As East Africa reeled under a severe drought in 2009 India gifted 5,000

tonne of wheat and an equal

amount of rice to Tanzania in the face of food security arising from drought

conditions. India offered all possible help and assistance in spurring a green

revolution in Tanzania. Agricultural cooperation was high on agenda when Tanzanian

Prime Minister visited India in September 2009. Tanzania has offered to lease land to

Indian private companies for a period of 99 years, as it pitched for increased

31

investment in the agricultural sector. It will help Indian companies who are looking

for land in Africa, especially for cash crops like sugar cane and oilseeds, of which

India faces a severe shortage.33

Defence cooperation

Tanzania’s Navy had just eight patrol and coastal craft in its inventory in 2001. Its

naval ships are a mix of 1970s and 1990s acquisitions, and two single Protector Class

vessels procured second-hand in 2005. Tanzania does not have an offshore combat

capability and no adaptive ability to fill this gap. Willing to develop its capability to

protect vital Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC), it is difficult for Tanzania to be

able to finance any new equipment and develop more than a residual coast guard

capability in the vicinity of its northern ports. This is of considerable concern given

the use of its 1,424 km long coast by South Asian, African and trading ships of other

countries. There are numerous instances of illegal fishing, incidents of marine

pollution and piracy. India with a sizeable naval presence in the Indian Ocean has

extended defence cooperation to Tanzania in different fields. India deployed military

training teams in Tanzania from 1988-91. The curriculum in the Command and Staff

College at Monduli was set up by India in the 1980s.34 Both the countries signed a

MOU on defence cooperation in New Delhi in October 2003. Indian naval ships have

occasionally paid goodwill visits to its ports and India has trained naval officers from

Tanzania at its facilities.35 In August 2008 four Indian naval ships INS Delhi, INS

Talwar, INS Godavari and INS Aditya made a port call at Dar es Salaam. India can

also help to tackle the threat of pirates targeting ships in port and anchorages in the

port of Dar es Salaam.36

With increased presence of United States and China in East Africa, it is prudent that

India takes appropriate measures to engage Tanzania more effectively in its long term

strategic interest. India needs to viably utilize military diplomacy to strengthen

overall relations and initiate joint military exercises to fight against piracy and for

keeping peace. They can share intelligence, and Tanzania can provide logistics

support and cooperate to tackle non-conventional threats such as drugs, piracy, and

terrorism. It is owing to the strategic importance of Tanzania that President Bush paid

32

a visit there in February 2008. China also considers the area as strategically

important. It hosted a China-Africa summit in October 2006 which was attended by

60 heads of states and ministers from African countries. China sends its naval ships

for port calls and sells arms to these countries. Due to increasing Chinese presence in

East Africa, India needs to counter it by taking appropriate measures.

Indian Ocean Cooperation

Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) was established

in Mauritius on March 1995 and formally launched in March 1997 to promote

sustainable growth in the region; focus on areas of economic cooperation to provide

opportunities for development; remove impediments and lower barriers towards a

freer and enhanced flow of goods, services, investment, and technology within the

Indian Ocean rim.37 Tanzania, along with India is one of the 18 members of the IOR-

ARC and takes active part in the activities of this forum. The Association has formed

many working groups to accelerate cooperation among the Indian Ocean Rim states.

Tanzania is meaningfully contributing in the Working Group on Trade and

Investment (WGTI), the Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum (IORBF), and the Indian

Ocean Rim Academic Group (IORAG), created under the aegis of IOR-ORC. It

procures important information through IORNET which serves as the information

focal point for the IOR-ARC.38

Under the IOR-ORC, The Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Cooperation (IOMAC) was

established as a pioneering ocean management movement initiated by countries of the

region. The IOMAC has opened new vistas on regional cooperation and facilitated

the broadening of intra-regional contacts between African and Asian countries. Sixth

meeting of IOMAC was held in Arusha, Tanzania, from 3-7 September 1990. Arusha

Agreement was signed with an aim to promote participation of other states active in

Indian Ocean in the IOMAC activities. Arusha Agreement has already been signed by

33

nine countries including Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nepal,

Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania. It has been ratified by Indonesia, Mauritius,

Mozambique, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Eight ratifications are needed for its coming

into-force. In the meantime, the IOMAC Technical Cooperation Group has already

been activated following the Arusha Resolution.39

Training Tanzanian personnel in India

India has initiated many schemes and programmes to offer training and other

education facilities to the nationals of the countries of Indian Ocean Region. Tanzania

is one of the largest beneficiaries under The Indian Technical and Economic

Cooperation (ITEC) programme.40 Tanzania was given about a hundred slots in 2007-

08 to train its personnel. India has invested heavily in enhancing the capacity of

Tanzanian public service through training and development. During 1999 to 2007

over 1000 Tanzanian nationals were provided training in various Indian institutes.

Almost all ministries, departments, organisations, or official agencies in Tanzania

have among their rolls alumni having undergone education or training in India.

Training had mainly been in the fields of financial management, environmental

management, health communication, governance, agriculture and education. Other

areas of training include infrastructure, tourism, ICT, rural development and

engineering.41 A large number of Tanzanian students study in Indian universities.

Educational Consultants India Limited (EdCIL), a Public Sector enterprise of the

Government of India under the Ministry of Education and Culture, has launched an

organised effort to attract more students from Tanzania for university level education

in India on commercial basis. To promote cultural exchange between the two

countries, Government of India offers scholarships to Tanzanian students. Eight

scholarships are offered under Africa Day Scholarships; six scholarships under

General Cultural Scholarship Scheme and three scholarships under Commonwealth

34

Scholarship Plan, for undergraduate, post graduate, doctoral and post-doctoral

studies.

Tourism ties with India

Tanzania has a rich wild life and forest biodiversity. Indian tourists regularly

visit Tanzania. For example, in 2007 about 15,000 Indian tourists visited Tanzania. In

June 2008, Tanzanian Tourism Minister Shamsa Mwangun visited India and pressed

for signing a memorandum of understanding on joint tourism development between

the two countries. She said that "Tanzania recognizes India's booming economy as a

means of increasing tourist flow to the African country and I can assure you of an

experience you will cherish forever.” Tanzania has a large Indian population with a

variety of Indian foods to offer to Indian visitors. Zanzibar and the coastal cities offer

a variety of Indian restaurants. Indian influence has made Tanzanian dishes tastier.

India with its rich and exotic history and heritage can also sell its tourist potential to

Tanzania. The country has also sought India's help in developing the hospitality

sector including training of Tanzanian manpower in this sector. This aspect can be

mutually beneficial for both the countries.42 A large share of the facilities in

Tanzania's hospitality sector are owned and operated by Indian origin people both

settlers and expatriates. Tanzania's first high class hotel, Ya Bwawani, in Zanzibar, in

early eighties was, to begin with, managed by the Oberoi group.

Apart from these areas of cooperation, the two countries have worked in close

consultation and concert on all major issues in international

forums, such as WTO on the Doha round of negotiations. India as a major developing

country and Tanzania as the coordinator of the Least Developed Countries, have

common perspectives and aspirations. Cultural troupes from India are regularly sent

for Indian cultural presentation in Tanzania. India supported Tanzania in its election

to the UN Security Council and supported Ambassador Mchuma as Tanzania’s

candidature for Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC).

India extends medical facilities for Tanzanian patients in its hospitals and medical

35

institutions and this has emerged as a significant dimension of bilateral friendship and

cooperation and some of the Indian hospitals provide subsidised treatment.

ConclusionTanzania, the largest country of east Africa is an important state on the Indian

Ocean littoral. With its above 1400 km long coastline extending seaward by its

exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the country is in the vicinity of major sea lanes and

pirate infested waters. Due to its location it is emerging as an important factor in the

security and geo-strategic environment of the Indian Ocean. Keeping in view the

increased presence of United States and China in the recent years, India can make

Tanzania a dependent partner for cooperation and to stump the non-conventional

threats ever increasing in the western Indian Ocean. Realising its geopolitical

importance, India has traditionally maintained good relationship with Tanzania. As

they do not have any serious areas of conflict, it is only the cooperation which has

chances to prevail between the two countries. India has developed multi-faceted

relationship with Tanzania since its independence in 1961, still there are many areas

in which more help and assistance can be offered. Despite growing trade, India still

shares less than one percent of Tanzanian trade. India must explore potential areas in

which trade can be increased. India can help in providing appropriate intermediate

technologies to explore, exploit and process its abundant natural resources. India can

help to expand its industry and agriculture

and above all build its educational institutions so that the country can indigenously

train its professionals and technocrats for a better future. India’s stupendously

growing corporate sector, technical, medical and education institutions, and emerging

infrastructure can make Tanzania feel that India is a natural choice in the Indian

Ocean Region for a long term and mutually beneficial relationship. This can also be

part of strategy in realizing India’s dream to become a formidable power in the Indian

Ocean Region.

36

References:

1. Running for a total of about 3,861 km, Tanzania’s border with Burundi runs for 451 km, with

Democratic Republic of the Congo 459 km, with Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756

km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, and Zambia 338 km. For Tanzania’s geography, see,

http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blctanzania.htm; also see, The Statesman’s Year Book 2008,

(2007) Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2007, pp.1203-04.

2. The Europa Year Book 2008, vol. II, (49th Edition), Routledge, London, p. 4332; Iliffe, John, (1979):

A Modern History of Tanganyika, Cambridge University Press; Barley, M (1973), Union of

Tanganyika and Zanzibar: a study in political integration, Syracuse University Press, New York.

3. J. Ndulu, Charles K. Mutalemwa, (2002) Tanzania at the Turn of the Century… background papers

and statistics, IDBR& Development, New York; also see, Lexicon Universal Encyclopedia, vol. 19,

Lexicon Publications, New York, 1987, pp 26-28. 

4. The Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC), a state-owned enterprise that runs a railway net that

once was part of the East African Railways Corporation (EARC) operating in Kenya, Uganda, and

Tanganyika. Together with the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority, the TRC provides the rail service

for Tanzania. See, “Tanzania Railways Corporation”, at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanzania_Railways_Corporation.

5. Nations Of The World’ (2004): World Business and Economic Review, Fourth Edition,

International Chamber of Commerce, London, 2004, p. 1383; The Europa Year Book 2008, op. cit., p.

4336; US Department of

States, Background Note: Tanzania, available at, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2843.htm

37

6. Mkanta, William N. and Chimtembo, Mathew M.B, “Towards Natural Resource Accounting In

Tanzania: A Study On The Contribution Of Natural Forests To National Income”, CEEPA Discussion

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> GDP - per capita http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?c=tz&v=67; also see, NATIONS OF THE

WORLD 2004, op. cit., pp. 1385-86.

8. “Tanzania: Survey of Financial Institutions”, http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:W8-

l6zJ81gUJ:www.financingcp.org/docs/tanzania; Ndulu, B. J. Ndulu, and Mutalemwa Charles K,

(2002): “Tanzania at the Turn of the Century”: background papers and statistics, World Bank; Bigsten,

Arne and Danielson, Anders, “Tanzania: is the ugly duckling finally growing up?”, (2001) A Report

for the OECD project "Emerging Africa", Research Report 120.

9. Chandrasekhar, S, (1990) Third World development experience-Tanzania, Daya Publishing House,

Delhi; Tanzania – Agriculture, Encyclopedia of Nations,

http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Tanzania-AGRICULTURE.html; Agriculture Statistics >

Agricultural land > % of land area (2003), see at,

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/agr_agr_lan_of_lan_are-agriculture-agricultural-land-of-

area&date=2003

10. See, Encyclopedia of Nations, op., cit.,

11. See, Ibid.,

12.http://www.indexmundi.com/tanzania/; also see, The Europa Year Book 2008, op. cit., pp. 4341-42.

13. Ibid.,

14. ‘Foreign Policy and Government Guide’, (2004) International Business Publications; Mwamba,

Zuberi, (1982) “TANZANIA: Foreign Policy and

International Politics”, Africa Today, vol. 29, no. 1, p.52; Nzomo, Maria, “The Foreign Policy of

Tanzania: From Cold War to Post-Cold War”, in, Wright, Stephen, (1998) African Foreign Policies,

West View Press, Boulder, pp. 182-203.

15. The East African Community (EAC) is the regional intergovernmental organisation to develop,

political, economic and social co-operation among the Partner States for their mutual benefit. The EAC

38

countries established a Customs Union in 2005 and are working towards the establishment of a

Common Market by 2010. They also intend to set up a Monetary Union by 2012 and ultimately a

Political Federation of the East African States. See, East African Community Portal, available at,

http://www.eac.int/about-eac.html; also see, McLaughlin, Abraham, “East African trade zone off to

creaky start”, The Christian Science Monitor, March 9, 2006.

16. “Prime Minister Pinda on Tanzania's Protracted Refugee Situation”, from an interview to UNHCR

Web Editor Leo Dobb, UNHCR, available at, http://www.unhcr.org/494b98b14.html.

17. http://www.international.icomos.org/risk/world_report/2000/southernafrica_2000.htm.

18. Gandhi, M K, (2001) ‘An Autobiography’, Navajivan Trust, Ahmedabad, p. 87.

19. “Recipients of the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding”, at

http://www.iccrindia.org/nehruawards.htm; The International Gandhi Peace Prize was named after

Mahatma Gandhi as a tribute to his ideals. Government of India launched the International Gandhi

Peace Prize in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. See,

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:TKaa94450REJ:bhogarao.com/GeneralKnowledge/

GKAwardsOtherNational.pdf+Mahatama+Gandhi+Peace+Prize+Nyerere+in+1995&hl=en&gl=in&sig

=AHIEtbT9iSRjxDTXa_Xb6WNgLvgPj8aXvg; For ideology and contribution of Julius Nyerere, see,

Rasias, (2006) Julius Nyerere. Humanist, Politician, Thinker, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute

for African Studies, Moscow. T

20. ‘India Tanzania Joint Commission meeting’, press release, January 15, 2009, New Delhi. See,

http://www.indembassy.be/pr2009_jan_15_india.html.

21. www.moia.gov.in/pdf/Tanzania.pdf.

39

22. ‘Trade Promotion Programme-Focus: Africa”, Government of India, Ministry of Commerce and

Industry, accessed at, http://commerce.nic.in/trade/international_tpp_africa_2.asp

23. Kamal Nath, (2009) ‘Statement for need to increase trade between India and Tanzania. Press

release, Department of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, dated, 19 January 2009

24. “India -Tanzania trade volume now at $750 million”, The Hindu, February 12, 2009.

25. Data taken from, http://commerce.nic.in/eidb/ieent.asp

26. Assistance was sought at the Second Meeting of the Joint Trade Committee (JTC) between India

and Tanzania, held in New Delhi on 18 May, 2007. See, Press Release Department of Commerce,

Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, dated 18 May, 2007.

27. “Reliance Buys Fuel Retailer GAPCO to Expand in Africa”, at,

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aCRUVGD_6oDU&refer=india

28. "October start for Tanzania rail concession". Railway Gazette International. 12 September, 2007.

29. “India Tanzania Relations”, High Commission of India- Dar-Es-Salaam, available at,

http://www.hcindiatz.org/itrel.htm

30. Financial Express, May 19, 2007

31. See, http://www.hcindiatz.org/itrel.htm

32. Reported in, The Guardian (Tanzania), 15 September 2004.

33. “Tanzania solicits Indian investment in agriculture, IT”, accessed from,

http://www.mynews.in/News/Tanzania_solicits_Indian_investment_in_agriculture,_IT_N25953.html

34. “Tanzania India Relations”, op. cit.,

35. Dutta, Arvind, “Indo-African Defence Cooperation: Need for Enhanced Thrust”, available at,

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:6mh2dorbXMsJ:www.idsa.in/system/files/

40

jds_2_2_adutta.pdf+training+to+Tanzanian+defence+officers+in+india; also see, Ministry of Defence,

Government of India, at, http://mod.nic.in/rec&training/welcome.html

36. “Indian warships engage French, African navies in Indian Ocean”, see http://www.india-

defence.com/reports/3979

37 Tiwari, Sanjeev Kumar, (2004) Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-

ARC): Problems and Prospects, Abhijit Publications, New Delhi.

38. See, http://www.iornet.com/

39. Jayewardene, Hiran W, “The Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Cooperation (IOMAC)”, available at,

http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu15oe/uu15oe0n.htm

40. Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, Technical Cooperation Division, available at,

http://itec.mea.gov.in/

41. Tanzanian Minister of State Hawa A. Ghasia’s speech at New Africa Hotel, on 27 March, 2008.

Accessed at http://www.utumishi.go.tz/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=100

42. Apolinari Tairo “Tanzania set to strengthen tourism ties with India”, (eturbonews-Global Travel

Industry News, dated Jun 26, 2008, available at, http://www.eturbonews.com/3374/tanzania-set-

strengthen-tourism-ties-india

41