Dar es Salaam. Over 22 representatives from French companies, accompanied by government officials, are currently in the country to explore diverse business prospects spanning energy transition, infrastructure, transport, tourism, and sustainable cities.
The visit highlights the potential for strengthened economic relations and inventive collaborations between the two nations, with a shared goal of fostering mutual economic growth.
Through the exchange of expertise and investments in key industries, both economies aim to reap significant benefits.
At the second French-Tanzania Business Forum that started on May 27, 2024, the Special Advisor to the minister for Smart and Sustainable Cities at France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gerald Wolf, highlighted that several companies are poised to make immediate investments in the aforementioned sector.
This underscores the promising momentum for strengthening economic ties between France and Tanzania.
“We are actively seeking opportunities to identify suitable partners across various sectors. Tanzania holds tremendous potential for opportunities, and we have high expectations for fruitful collaboration due to its vast array of possibilities,” he said.
According to him, Tanzania has huge potential in agriculture and is strategically located in eastern and southern Africa.
This advantageous position is further bolstered by its connection to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and Metre Gauge Railway (MGR), enabling the export of soft commodities and imports through the Dar es Salaam port.
In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning the commercialization of Uganda’s discovered petroleum resources, feasibility studies were conducted to explore the development of a crude oil export pipeline from the Albertine Graben in Uganda to the East African Coast.
The objective was to identify the most cost-effective route for transporting Uganda’s crude oil to international oil markets.
The Hoima (Uganda)–Tanga (Tanzania) route was found to be the most economic and robust route option since it was more secure, had less constructability and logistical constraints, and had an already operational port, resulting in the lowest possible tariff.
The French ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Nabil Haijaoui, said that France is focused on fostering stronger economic ties and promoting sustainable development through a series of insightful discussions and strategic meetings.
The aim of the tour is to bolster trade and investment by establishing a global gateway for businesses from both countries to thrive.
Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with representatives from major financial institutions such as the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the French Development Agency, the African Development Bank, and the European Investment Bank (BEI).
Tanzania ambassador to France, Ali Mwadini, said that things are happening, adding that when people come to Tanzania, it means it has a lot of things that have attracted them.
“We have many reasons to work together because our location is unique; many countries share borders with us. This is why Tanzania has been reviewing policies to attract investments into the country,” he said.
According to him, discussions are currently underway with a number of French companies to invest in several projects, including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), although he refrained from providing detailed explanations at this time.
In the context of profound changes in economies, demographics, and the rise of digital societies, the ambassador emphasised their mission to promote the freedom of enterprises and entrepreneurship.
To achieve this goal, the embassy takes initiatives aimed at enabling companies to capitalise on a favourable legislative and regulatory environment across economic, fiscal, social, environmental, and societal domains.
This facilitates the expansion of their activities both within France and abroad.
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Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns
Several airports have since locked Air Tanzania, dealing a severe blow to the Tanzanian national carrier that must now work overtime to regain its certification or go the wet lease way
The European Commission has announced the inclusion of Air Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning the airline from operating in European airspace.
The decision, made public on December 16, 2024, is based on safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which also led to the denial of Air Tanzania’s application for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.
The Commission did not go into the specifics of the safety infringement but industry experts suggest it is possible that the airline could have flown its Airbus A220 well past its scheduled major checks, thus violating the airworthiness directives.
“The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and worldwide,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
“We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues. I have offered the Commission’s assistance to the Tanzanian authorities in enhancing Air Tanzania’s safety performance and achieving full compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania has a mixed fleet of modern aircraft types including Boeing 787s, 737 Max jets, and Airbus A220s.
It has been flying the B787 Dreamliner to European destinations like Frankfurt in Germany and Athens in Greece and was looking to add London to its growing list with the A220.
But the ban not only scuppers the London dream but also has seen immediate ripple effect, with several airports – including regional like Kigali and continental – locking out Air Tanzania.
Tanzania operates KLM alongside the national carrier.
The European Commission said Air Tanzania may be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with.
A wet lease is where an airline pays to use an aircraft with a crew, fuel, and insurance all provided by the leasing company at a fee.
Two more to the list
The EU Air Safety List, maintained to ensure passenger safety, is updated periodically based on recommendations from the EU Air Safety Committee.
The latest revision, which followed a meeting of aviation safety experts in Brussels from November 19 to 21, 2024, now includes 129 airlines.
Of these, 100 are certified in 15 states where aviation oversight is deemed insufficient, and 29 are individual airlines with significant safety deficiencies.
Alongside Air Tanzania, other banned carriers include Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), and Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran).
Commenting on the broader implications of the list, Tzitzikostas stated, “Our priority remains the safety of every traveler who relies on air transport. We urge all affected airlines to take these bans seriously and work collaboratively with international bodies to resolve the identified issues.”
In a positive development, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been cleared to resume operations in the EU following a four-year suspension. The ban, which began in 2020, was lifted after substantial improvements in safety performance and oversight by PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).
“Since the TCO Authorisation was suspended, PIA and PCAA have made remarkable progress in enhancing safety standards,” noted Tzitzikostas. “This demonstrates that safety issues can be resolved through determination and cooperation.”
Another Pakistani airline, Airblue Limited, has also received EASA’s TCO authorisation.
Decisions to include or exclude airlines from the EU Air Safety List are based on rigorous evaluations of international safety standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
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The process involves thorough review and consultation among EU Member State aviation safety experts, with oversight from the European Commission and support from EASA.
“Where an airline currently on the list believes it complies with the required safety standards, it can request a reassessment,” explained Tzitzikostas. “Our goal is not to penalize but to ensure safety compliance globally.”
Airlines listed on the EU Air Safety List face significant challenges to their international operations, as the bans highlight shortcomings in safety oversight by their home regulatory authorities.
For Air Tanzania, this inclusion signals an urgent need for reform within Tanzania’s aviation sector to address these deficiencies and align with global standards.
The path forward will require immediate and sustained efforts to rectify safety concerns and regain access to one of the world’s most critical aviation markets.
Source: allafrica.com
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