mohammed khalid: india and tanzania in the geopolitics of indian ocean
DESCRIPTION
Indian Ocean Digest, Vol.27, No2, Issue 48, July-December 2010, pp. 22-41TRANSCRIPT
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
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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
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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
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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,
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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
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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
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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
Paper SeriesISBN 0-9584508-1-1, Discussion Paper ISBN 0-9584508-7-0, September 2002.
7 “Tanzania Economy 2009”, available at,
http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/tanzania/tanzania_economy.html; also see, Country Comparison
> 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