This article covers trade and investment between India and Tanzania: trade figures, the goods each country sells to the other, Indian investment and the Indian companies present in Tanzania, energy links, and the defence industry exhibitions held in Dar es Salaam. It is based on the MEA brief of April 2026, and figures are given as of that brief.
Trade figures
According to the MEA brief of April 2026, India is the second largest trading partner of Tanzania, with bilateral trade of USD 8.6 billion in 2024-25, as per DGCI&S data.
Trade is one of the areas covered by the institutional mechanisms between the two countries, including the Joint Trade Committee and the India-Tanzania Joint Commission on Economic, Technical and Scientific Cooperation.
Main goods traded
India's major exports to Tanzania, as listed in the brief, include:
- petroleum products
- pharmaceuticals and chemicals
- motor vehicles
- electrical goods
- articles of iron and steel
- sugar
- machinery
Tanzania's major exports to India include:
- gold dore
- cashew nuts
- pulses
- timber
- spices, mainly cloves
- ores and metal scrap
- gemstones
Indian investment in Tanzania
The brief states that India is among the top five investment sources in Tanzania. According to the Tanzania Investment Centre, as cited in the brief, Indian investments in Tanzania add up to USD 4.08 billion.
Indian companies in Tanzania
The brief names the following as major Indian companies in Tanzania at present:
- Airtel (telecom)
- Tata Africa Holdings Ltd
- Mahindra & Mahindra (tractors)
- Kamal Group (steel)
- Kalpataru (power transmission)
- Tanzindia (insurance, with a significant share of Indian PSEs)
- Larsen & Toubro
- Afcons
- Hester Biosciences (animal vaccines)
- Mahashree Agro
- Purandare Industries (sugar factory)
The brief also describes Indian vehicles and farm equipment in Tanzania. It notes that a large number of Escorts tractors and farm equipment, and TATA, Ashok Leyland and Eicher commercial vehicles, can be seen in Tanzania. Tata Eicher has a presence in the urban bus market, and Sonalika and Mahindra tractors are also available. Bajaj and TVS three wheelers and Boxer/TVS motorcycles are also in use.
Two Indian banks operate in Tanzania: Bank of Baroda and Bank of India.
In mining, two Indian companies, M/s Pacco Gems Limited and M/s Nazareth Investment Company Limited, have obtained licences for graphite extraction in Tanzania.
Energy
Petroleum products are among India's major exports to Tanzania, and energy ministers from Tanzania have taken part in India Energy Week. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Dr. Doto Mashaka Biteko attended India Energy Week in New Delhi from 11-14 February 2025. He took part in the Ministerial session on "Shaping a New World Energy Order and Trade Map" on 12th February 2025, and met Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Hardeep Singh Puri on 11 February 2025.
Hon. Salome Wycliffe Makamba, Deputy Energy Minister of Tanzania, took part in the 4th edition of India Energy Week from 27-30 January 2026.
Defence industry exhibitions
The High Commission of India has organised defence exhibitions in Dar es Salaam with the participation of Indian defence companies:
- The first DefExpo, on 30th May 2022, was organised with the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM). 16 companies took part: 7 Defence Public Sector Undertakings and 9 private companies.
- The 2nd Defexpo, on 2nd October 2023, had the participation of 19 Indian defence companies.
- The 3rd Defexpo, on 13 April 2025, had the participation of 22 Indian defence companies.
Indian companies in development projects
Indian companies also carry out projects financed by Indian lines of credit, which are described in the development and cooperation article of this guide.