Vice President Kamala Harris visited Tanzania as part of an African tour aimed at boosting ties with a continent where China and Russia are exerting a growing amount of influence.
Harris’ voyage started in Ghana on Sunday, and she arrived in Dar es Salaam, the commercial center of Tanzania, on Wednesday night. She visited with President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday.
After delivering short statements to the media, the two women met in private for more in-depth conversations.
Harris detailed a number of cooperation initiatives with the main goal of increasing investment in Tanzania and creating economic ties.
Among them was a revised memorandum of understanding between the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) and the government of Tanzania.
Due to this, U.S. companies in the infrastructure, transportation, digital technology, climate and energy security, and power generation sectors will have access to up to $500 million in investment.
In addition, Harris revealed a new partnership in 5G technology and cybersecurity, as well as the United States’ support for LifeZone Metals’ ambition to create a facility in Tanzania to process minerals used in the creation of batteries for electric cars.
She said that “raw materials will soon be processed in Tanzania by Tanzanians” and that beginning in 2026, the facility would provide battery-grade nickel to the U.S. and global market through exports to the U.S.
China has made considerable investments in Africa over the last two decades, and in November of last year, the president of Tanzania visited with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
China said that it would study the prospect of opening its market to further Tanzanian goods after the leaders reached an agreement to “increase bilateral trade and trade volume substantially.”
