Dar es Salaam. Tanzania and Angola are poised to boost trade and investment ties under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aiming to unlock opportunities in sectors like agriculture, tourism, industry and the blue economy.
The two nations have pledged to deepen their economic cooperation, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan and President João Lourenço announcing new initiatives yesterday in Luanda, during President Samia’s official visit to Angola.
In a joint press briefing, President Samia revealed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) and Angola’s Agency for Private Investment and Promotion of Exports (AIPEX), a step aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and investment.
The MoU aims to facilitate increased investment flows between the two nations.
“Given the immense opportunities available in our countries, including in agriculture, tourism, industry, and the blue economy, we have now resolved to enhance our efforts to expand the business and investment ties between our two countries,” President Samia shared.
She said that the need for both countries to leverage regional frameworks such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Free Trade Area and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“We also want together to further facilitate trade and encourage our business people to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the SADC free trade area and African continental free trade area to maintain this momentum,” she added. President Lourenço echoed similar sentiments, noting that economic cooperation must complement historical and political relations.
“It’s not enough to have the friendship as we’ve had, but we need to consolidate these bonds through economic and social development of our countries,” he said.
The Lobito Corridor project has gained Tanzania’s backing as a key transcontinental trade route that could transform Africa’s connectivity.
President João Lourenço described the corridor as a strategic initiative that will connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean, linking Africa to global markets.
“It’s going to connect two oceans from the Atlantic to India, in such a way which will also connect the continents, the trade coming from Asia to Africa to Europe and the U.S.,” President Lourenço said.
“Its importance goes beyond the interest of our continent, and it will help reduce the price as much as it reduces the time of export of commodities.”
President Samia welcomed the discussion on the Lobito Corridor and said the project could benefit the broader region through improved logistics and trade infrastructure.
In another move to strengthen bilateral relations, Tanzania has announced that it will exempt Angolan citizens from the requirement of obtaining a tourist visa, a step aimed at promoting tourism, trade, and people-to-people ties.
“Today, I’m delighted to announce that Tanzania has reciprocated the exemption of tourist visas for the citizens of the Republic of Angola wishing to visit Tanzania,” President Samia said.
She noted that the decision would significantly facilitate travel and enhance investment opportunities between the two countries.
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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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