Samia, Ruto call for increased Tanzania-Kenya trade

President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her Kenyan counterpart Dr William Ruto (left with red tie) enter the Dar es Salaam State House grounds for official talks yesterday

By Lake Zone Watch Writer

Trade between Tanzania and neighbouring Kenya has grown steadily to reach 1.7 trilllion shillings in 2025, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has disclosed.

The disclosure follows talks in Dar es Salaam between President Samia and her Kenyan counterpart, Dr William Ruto, who arrived on Monday for a two-day official visit to Tanzania.

President Samia said to foster the rapid growth of trade and investment opportunities between the two countries, Tanzanian and Kenyan technocrats have been directed to ensure that all non-tax trade barriers are removed as of 31st May this year.

She said the two countries have agreed to strengthen the existing brotherly relatlions for the benefit of peoples of both nations.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of eight agreements and instruments of cooperation on such key sectors as agriculture, gas, railway, defence and security, marine transport, safety of commodities and farm priducts, and civil service.

Historically, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda are the three East African states which formed a single cooperation unit which led to the creation of the current expanded East African Community (EAC).

EAC member countries cooperate in various economic sectors in a market of 343 million people.