France
Bilateral trade between France and Tanzania reached approximately 136 million euros in 2020, anchored by five leading French companies that founded the French-Tanzanian Chamber of Commerce in January 2020.
France's engagement with Tanzania spans trade, energy, logistics, tourism, and diplomatic cooperation, with AGS Group, Bolloré, ENGIE PowerCorner, Maurel & Prom, and TotalEnergies forming the corporate backbone of the relationship.
The Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania in Paris, accredited also to Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Tunisia, drives economic diplomacy, investment promotion, and tourism outreach for Tanzania across these markets.[1]
Contents
France-Tanzania Bilateral Trade
Total bilateral trade between France and Tanzania stood at approximately 136 million euros in 2020, the most recent aggregate figure available.[2]
French exports to Tanzania concentrate in four sectors: mechanical equipment, electrical equipment, electronic equipment, and IT equipment.[2]
Tanzanian exports to France are dominated by forestry, fish, and agro products.[2]
All imports from Tanzania to France enter duty-free and quota-free, with the exception of armaments, under the European Union's Everything but Arms initiative.[2]
French Companies Operating in Tanzania
Five major French companies anchor France's corporate footprint in Tanzania and form the founding members of the French-Tanzanian Chamber of Commerce.[2]
The five firms are AGS Group, Bolloré, ENGIE PowerCorner, Maurel & Prom, and TotalEnergies.[2]
Their activities span logistics and relocation services, rural electrification, upstream oil and gas, and integrated energy.
TotalEnergies and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline
TotalEnergies is the largest shareholder in the multi-billion dollar East African Crude Oil Pipeline project, one of the most significant energy infrastructure investments involving Tanzania.[2]
ENGIE PowerCorner and Rural Electrification
ENGIE PowerCorner focuses on decentralised rural electrification, complementing TotalEnergies' upstream footprint with off-grid generation for underserved communities.[2]
Tourism and Air Connectivity
France is an important tourism source market for Tanzania.[2]
Over 100,000 French citizens visited Tanzania in 2022, with a strong concentration on Zanzibar.[2]
Air France operates flights from Paris to Zanzibar, and from June 2023 launched direct services from Paris to two cities in Tanzania, deepening the tourism and business travel corridor between the two countries.[2]
Diplomatic Representation
The Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania in Paris is jointly accredited to Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Tunisia, and its bilateral and multilateral remit extends across all these jurisdictions.[1]
The mission's core activities are the promotion of Tanzanian tourism, support for cooperation between economic actors, and facilitation of foreign investment.[1]
At the multilateral level, the embassy engages with UNESCO, the International Bureau of Exhibitions (BIE), and the OECD in Paris, and with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Madrid.[1]
Policy and Institutional Framework
The French-Tanzanian Chamber of Commerce, established in January 2020, provides the structured platform for private sector dialogue between the two countries.[2]
Under the European Union's Everything but Arms initiative, Tanzanian goods, except armaments, benefit from duty-free and quota-free access to the French and wider EU market.[2]
High-level state visits have contributed to sustaining diplomatic and economic dialogue between the two countries.[2]
Investment Opportunities Linked to France
Energy remains a leading area of opportunity, with French involvement in the East African Crude Oil Pipeline and in decentralised rural electrification pointing to further scope in generation, transmission, and off-grid solutions.[2]
Logistics, transport, and supply chain services present openings tied to the presence of established French operators along Tanzania's ports and corridors.[2]
Tourism-linked investment is supported by growing French arrivals and direct air connectivity from Paris, creating demand for hospitality, tour operations, and ancillary services in Zanzibar and mainland destinations.[2]
Agro-processing, fisheries, and forestry offer export-oriented opportunities that benefit from duty-free and quota-free access to the French and wider European market.[2]
Distribution of mechanical, electrical, electronic, and IT equipment aligns with the structure of French exports and creates room for joint ventures and local assembly.[2]
Last Update: July 2026
References
- About the Embassy | Embassy of Tanzania in Paris, France
- https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2025reporten.pdf
- Spotlighting The World Factbook as We Bid a Fond Farewell - CIA
- Spotlighting The World Factbook as We Bid a Fond Farewell - CIA
- Spotlighting The World Factbook as We Bid a Fond Farewell - CIA
- Spotlighting The World Factbook as We Bid a Fond Farewell - CIA
