The 7th African Union–European Union Summit, held in Luanda, Angola, on 24–25 November 2025, marked a renewed moment of cooperation between Africa and the European Union.
Europe remains Africa’s largest trading partner. As Jean-Claude Juncker, former President of the European Commission, noted, “Africa does not need charity; it needs true and fair partnerships. And Europe needs this partnership just as much.”
The summit culminated in the Luanda Declaration, which presents a timely opportunity for Tanzania to deepen economic transformation, strengthen regional connectivity, and expand social and technological progress. By aligning national priorities with the summit outcomes, Tanzania stands to gain substantially — provided it acts strategically and proactively.
One of the clearest opportunities lies in industrial value chains, particularly minerals and manufacturing. With significant deposits of rare earths, graphite, nickel and other critical minerals, Tanzania is well positioned to become a major partner as the EU diversifies supply chains away from traditional sources. The Luanda commitments encourage value addition within Africa rather than the export of raw minerals. This creates space for Tanzania to attract European investment into mineral processing and technology-transfer partnerships.
Tanzania also stands to benefit from the summit’s emphasis on energy and climate cooperation. The summit reaffirmed Europe’s support for Africa’s clean-energy transition, climate resilience and adaptation capacity. This aligns directly with Tanzania’s ambitions to expand renewable electricity generation, extend transmission networks and scale up clean-cooking solutions. Access to the EU’s Global Gateway financing — already mobilising billions for African energy projects — could help Tanzania accelerate grid expansion, off-grid electrification and the early-stage development of green hydrogen.
In terms of trade and connectivity, the EU’s pledge to strengthen regional infrastructure and support AfCFTA implementation opens opportunities for Tanzania’s ongoing efforts to upgrade ports, railways and logistics corridors. Enhanced cooperation could accelerate work on the Standard Gauge Railway, support the modernisation of the Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Mtwara and Bagamoyo ports, and unlock regional markets for Tanzanian products. Improved digital infrastructure — another summit commitment — would further boost the country’s competitiveness in services and innovation.
To maximise these benefits, Tanzania must take deliberate action. First, it should normalise its strained relationship with the EU — a matter I discussed extensively in last week’s commentary. Second, it should articulate clear national priorities and align them with EU funding windows, especially in energy, digital transformation and industrialisation. Well-designed, bankable projects will attract investment far more effectively than broad policy statements. Third, Tanzania should improve regulatory predictability and investment facilitation. Clear, concise frameworks for mining, energy and special economic zones will make EU companies more willing to invest in long-term projects.
Finally, there must be deep engagement between the Tanzanian private sector — through relevant business associations such as CTI, TPSF and TCCIA — and their European counterparts, ensuring that summit commitments translate into tangible business ventures, technology transfer, jobs and increased exports.
If Tanzania aligns its strategic priorities with the opportunities unlocked in Luanda, the summit could become a springboard for accelerated industrial growth, stronger connectivity and a more resilient, inclusive economy.
