Dar es Salaam. A newly launched Tanzanian American Chamber of Commerce office in North Dallas is looking to mobilize investments from the USA in Tanzania’s critical minerals, including graphite and lithium, that are globally sought for electric cars.
The Chamber was launched by Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson.
The Tanzanian American Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Ben Kazora, told The Citizen that they will, among other things, work to promote U.S.-Tanzanian trade and tourism and bolster the city’s foreign relations credentials.
“This is purely private sector; we will mobilize US investors to invest in Tanzania as well as advocate for friendly policies in Tanzania.
Given this, he said they work on mobilizing investment in Tanzanian critical minerals that are globally sought for electric cars.
Research has shown that Tanzania has huge potential in those minerals, especially as its reserves of lithium are second in the world and graphite deposits are fifth worldwide.
He noted that they are also looking to promote the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which Tanzania has not taken advantage of.
“We aim to promote Tanzanians to improve goods and services to meet American standards,” he said.
He said that they also aim to promote tourism.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Mayor said the relationship with Tanzania and Africa as a whole has been one of their most important international relationships.
“Dallas is home to some of the largest African immigrant communities in the United States,” he said.
He underscored Dallas’ pivotal role in fostering robust trade and commerce, particularly in the context of U.S.-Africa relations, further solidifying the city’s reputation as a global business hub.
He said his goal was to bring more foreign businesses to Dallas and make it an international hub for business and trade.
On her part, Jeanne Phillips, the chair of the Mayor’s International Advisory Council, said the Tanzanian American Chamber had been in the works for a while. She said she was honoured to be tasked with helping on the project, noting that she and her team continue to work to make more international connections for the city.
“So we’ve been working towards that end,” Phillips said. “Just a little preview: I think you will see, in the next three years, more of these trade offices opening, and we’re very, very excited about that.”
Ambassador Elsie Kanza, from the Embassy of Tanzania in the United States of America, thanked Mayor Johnson for the initiative.
“What a journey it has been, as my brother Mayor Johnson articulated at the outset. On behalf of the government of Tanzania, I would like to express my profound gratitude to Mayor Eric Johnson of the City of Dallas for extending this invitation to Tanzania to join this visionary initiative,” Kanza said.
Share this news
This Year's Most Read News Stories
East African Community Bloc Dismisses Fake Common Currency
The secretariat of the East African Community (EAC) regional bloc has dismissed a post on X, formerly Twitter, which claimed that the bloc’s member countries have launched a common regional currency.Continue Reading
Concerns mount over Zanzibar new $44 travel insurance fee
Tour operators, hoteliers, tourists, and tourism stakeholders are raising alarms over Zanzibar’s new mandatory $44 travel insurance fee, set to take effect on September 1.Continue Reading
Tanzania Confirms Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
Dodoma — Tanzania today confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the northwestern Kagera region after one case tested positive for the virus following investigations and laboratory analysis of suspected cases of the disease.
President of the Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, made the announcement during a press briefing alongside World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in the country’s administrative capital Dodoma.
“Laboratory tests conducted in Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one patient as being infected with the Marburg virus. Fortunately, the remaining suspected patients tested negative,” the president said. “We have demonstrated in the past our ability to contain a similar outbreak and are determined to do the same this time around.”
A total of 25 suspected cases have been reported as of 20 January 2025, all of whom have tested negative and are currently under close follow-up, the president said. The cases have been reported in Biharamulo and Muleba districts in Kagera.
“We have resolved to reassure the general public in Tanzania and the international community as a whole of our collective determination to address the global health challenges, including the Marburg virus disease,” said H.E President Hassan.
WHO is supporting Tanzanian health authorities to enhance key outbreak control measures including disease surveillance, testing, treatment, infection prevention and control, case management, as well as increasing public awareness among communities to prevent further spread of the virus.
“WHO, working with its partners, is committed to supporting the government of Tanzania to bring the outbreak under control as soon as possible, and to build a healthier, safer, fairer future for all the people of Tanzania,” said Dr Tedros. “Now is a time for collaboration, and commitment, to protecting the health of all people in Tanzania, and the region, from the risks posed by this disease.”
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
“The declaration by the president and the measures being taken by the government are crucial in addressing the threat of this disease at the local and national levels as well as preventing potential cross-border spread,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our priority is to support the government to rapidly scale up measures to effectively respond to this outbreak and safeguard the health of the population,”
Tanzania previously reported an outbreak of Marburg in March 2023 – the country’s first – in Kagera region, in which a total of nine cases (eight confirmed and one probable) and six deaths were reported, with a case fatality ratio of 67%.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Although several promising candidate medical countermeasures are currently undergoing clinical trials, there is no licensed treatment or vaccine for effective management or prevention of Marburg virus disease. However, early access to treatment and supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.
Source: allafrica.com
