News

Rosie Glazebrook, Chief Executive of CWEIC, completed an exploratory visit to Tanzania from March 5–7. Organised in collaboration with African Desk, a Strategic Partner of CWEIC, the visit focused on strengthening Commonwealth-Tanzania relations. During her time in Tanzania, Rosie engaged with key local stakeholders and was accompanied by John Apea, CWEIC’s Head of Mission in Ghana and CEO of eTranzact.
The visit began with a tour of Superdoll, a leading provider of high-quality international products and services in the automotive industry and one of Equity Bank’s largest clients in Tanzania, a Strategic Partner of CWEIC.

On the evening of March 5, Equity Bank hosted a dinner for Rosie at Akemi Revolving Restaurant, gathering key industry stakeholders to discuss Tanzania’s economic landscape and investment opportunities.

On March 6, the day began with a Business Breakfast hosted by Deputy British High Commissioner Ms Sally Medley at her residence. The event convened Tanzanian business leaders and CWEIC representatives for discussions on strengthening trade and investment ties within Commonwealth markets. Key topics included unlocking new business opportunities and enhancing private sector collaboration to drive economic growth across Tanzania and the wider Commonwealth.

Attendees included:

• Sally Medley, Deputy British High Commissioner
• Andrew Mahiga, Country Director, Department for Business & Trade, British High Commission, Tanzania
• Richard Craig, Head of the Economics Team, British High Commission
• Francis Gimara, ALP East Africa (CWEIC Strategic Partner)
• Herman Kasekende, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania
• N. Sankaranarayanan, MAC Group Ltd
• Shamana Amin, Partner, ALN Tanzania
• John Apea, CWEIC Head of Mission, Ghana & CEO, e-Tranzact
• Amanda Lui, Partner, Clyde & Co
• Isabela Maganga & Prosper Nambaya, Equity Bank Tanzania
• Magreth Magoma, Advocate, TIAC
• Faraja Mgwabati, African Desk

Later in the day, the delegation met with Mr. John Ulanga, Director of International Trade and Economic Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, where discussions focused on Tanzania’s positioning in the global trade environment and potential policy collaborations.

In the evening, a private meeting was held between CWEIC, African Desk, and the State Minister for Planning and Investment, Hon. Prof. Kitila Mkumbo. During this strategic discussion, the Minister expressed Tanzania’s strong commitment to joining CWEIC as a Strategic Partner, recognising the value of Commonwealth-wide investment collaborations.

The day concluded with a Networking Iftar Dinner at Serena Hotel, attended by the Minister, senior government officials, private sector leaders, and international investors. During the dinner Hon. Prof. Kitila Mkumbo, Minister of Planning and Investment, reaffirmed the government’s commitment, stating:

“Our vision for Tanzania is to position it as a critical global investment hub. Tanzania holds significant advantages for attracting investment, including its strategic location, abundant resources, and well-established logistics infrastructure. Through CWEIC, we aim to deepen our trade relations within the Commonwealth and drive high-value investment in key sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and energy.”

He also highlighted Tanzania’s commitment to industrialization and value addition, noting:

“For decades, Africa has exported raw materials, but true economic transformation lies in manufacturing and value addition. Tanzania is positioning itself to lead in this space, and our collaboration with CWEIC is a vital step in that journey.”

The dinner provided an excellent platform for business leaders to engage in direct discussions with key policymakers, further solidifying Tanzania’s readiness to expand its international investment partnerships.

To conclude the visit, Rosie, was pleased to visit African Desk and was generously gifted a wonderful painting. CWEIC is very appreciative of the support African Desk offered for Rosie’s three day visit to Dar Es Salaam. We specifically want to thank Mr Patient Sayiba Tambwe, Executive Chairman of African Desk Group Limited, and Mr Faraja Mgwabati, Director of African Desk Group Limited for their support.

Speaking on the conclusion of the visit, Rosie Glazebrook, remarked:

“Tanzania is a key player in Africa’s economic landscape, and we are excited about the country’s interest in deepening its engagement with CWEIC. This visit has laid the foundation for stronger trade and investment collaboration, and we look forward to working closely with Tanzania to unlock new economic opportunities across Commonwealth markets.”