Tanzania’s envoy presents credentials to King Charles

Sauli Giliard

LONDON, UK: Tanzania’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Mbelwa Kairuki, presented his credentials before King Charles III, promising to

enhance diplomatic relations between the two countries for the betterment of wananchi.

On Thursday, the monarch welcomed diplomats from Tanzania and Singapore, representing their respective countries in the UK, Mbelwa Kairuki and Ng Teck Hean, at Buckingham Palace for the formal welcoming ceremony.

After presenting his credentials, Mr. Mbelwa insisted that the Embassy’s top priorities are to ensure more Tanzanians avail themselves of various opportunities in the UK, including scholarships and markets for their products. He stated that Tanzania is determined to attract increased foreign direct investments (FDI) and capital from the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland to boost employment opportunities.

“Our top priorities are to ensure more Tanzanians benefit from the existing relationship between the UK and Tanzania, including scholarships and markets. I believe these are the issues for discussion for us to move forward,” the envoy said in response to his counterpart, Mr. Togolani Mavura, the country’s ambassador to South Korea.

After the submission, Ambassador Mavura took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate Mr. Mbelwa for becoming the first Tanzanian high commissioner to present his credentials to King Charles III. A total of 13 of Mbelwa’s predecessors presented their credentials before Queen Elizabeth II.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan transferred Kairuki Kairuki to London, replacing Dr. Asha Migiro, whose tenure ended last year. Prior to the Head of State’s decision, the diplomat was representing Tanzania in the People’s Republic of China. Khamis Mussa Omar was stationed in China to fill the vacuum left by Mr. Kairuki.

According to the latest factsheet from the UK’s Department of Business and Trade, the total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and Tanzania reached £441 million (approximately 1.34 trillion/-) in the four quarters ending Q2 2023, marking a 54.2 percent increase.

UK exports to Tanzania amounted to £242 million in the same period, an increase of 17.5 percent (£36 million) compared to the four quarters ending Q2 2022.

UK imports from Tanzania totaled £199 million in the four quarters ending Q2 2023, indicating a 148.7 percent increase (£119 million) in current prices compared to the four quarters ending Q2 2022.

Tanzania was the UK’s 116th largest trading partner, accounting for less than 0.1 percent of total UK trade in the four quarters ending Q2 2023. In 2021, the outward stock of foreign direct investment (FDI) from the UK in Tanzania was £34 million.