Tanzania and Kenya sign eight bilateral agreements to eliminate trade barriers

President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her Kenyan counterpart, President William Ruto, have overseen the signing of eight milestone agreements aimed at deepening economic ties and resolving long-standing trade hurdles between the two East African neighbors. 

The agreements, signed during President Ruto's two-day state visit to Tanzania which commenced yesterday, cover a wide range of strategic sectors including railway cooperation, agriculture, and the implementation of the Dar es Salaam-Mombasa natural gas pipeline. Other areas of partnership include mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, maritime transport, and capacity building within the public service sector.

In a joint effort to boost commerce, the two leaders committed to clearing all outstanding non-tariff barriers by the end of May 2026. President Samia emphasized that Tanzania is dedicated to aligning regulatory systems and building the necessary infrastructure to unlock cross-border investment, ensuring that administrative bottlenecks no longer stifle growth. 

Reflecting on the economic trajectory, President Ruto highlighted that bilateral trade stood at 860 million U.S. dollars in 2025. He noted that the volume could have easily surpassed the one-billion-dollar mark had it not been for disruptions caused by trade barriers.

He projected that with the removal of these obstacles and strengthened private sector engagement; trade could rise to one billion dollars while attracting 500 million dollars in new investments within the next three years. 

The high-level talks also reviewed major regional infrastructure projects, including power interconnection and road corridors linking Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, and Tanga to Mombasa. Both heads of state directed the Joint Trade Committee to meet regularly to proactively resolve any emerging trade disputes and prevent the recurrence of barriers.

Following the official talks at State House, the presidents attended the Tanzania-Kenya Business Forum. The forum served as a platform for government officials and private sector actors to share experiences, with a unanimous call for deeper cooperation in manufacturing, energy, finance, and services to advance shared prosperity for both nations.