TANZANIANS living in Guangdong Province in southern part of China, to increase remittances and direct investments in the country.

Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, the Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation minister, issued this appeal at a high-level engagement with the Tanzanian community in the key trading hub in China, emphasizing the Diaspora's crucial role in driving economic growth, investment, tourism and diplomacy.

Praising the patriotic spirit of Tanzanians abroad, he said they were vital partners in shaping Tanzania’s future. "Even though we are far from home, being among you today makes me feel as though I am in the heart of Tanzania. You carry the spirit of our nation with you, and your contributions—social, economic, and cultural—are deeply valued," he declared.

Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar and other embassy officials attended the meeting, seeking to strengthen ties with the Diaspora, especially given the rise in remittances and investments from those living abroad.

The minister highlighted significant financial contributions from Tanzanians overseas, citing Bank of Tanzania figures that remittances during July to December 2024 exceeded 2.1trn/-, up from 2.04trn/- a year earlier. 

These funds directly support families, local development and the national economy, he stated, commending the Diaspora's increasing engagement with formal investment platforms

“By February 2024, investments in the Unit Trust Scheme - Asset Management and Investor Services (UTT-AMIS collective scheme) by Tanzanians abroad had reached 7.5bn/-, up from 6.4bn/- in 2023,” he said.

UTT-AMIS promotes its services in Guangzhou, with property acquisition on the rise as Tanzanians abroad invested 7.57bn/- in housing through the National Housing Corporation and private developers during 2024.

In an apparent response to these growing contributions, the government recently launched a revised foreign policy format dated 2024, replacing the 2001 edition, recognizing the Tanzanian Diaspora as a :strategic partner in national development.”

“The new policy includes practical reforms to improve the investment climate for the Diaspora. You will now be able to engage as full economic players—on par with local investors,” he affirmed.

To streamline engagement, the ministry was setting up a dedicated Diaspora unit for such affairs, including maintaining a digital database for Tanzanians abroad to register, ensuring better coordination and service delivery, he said. 

“I urge those who have not yet registered to do so. This isn’t about monitoring—it’s about ensuring you are properly represented in our policies and services,” he explained.

The government is also working on a major legal initiative to support Tanzanians who have acquired foreign citizenship with a Tanzania Diaspora Tanzanite Card offering special privileges, including legal rights and economic benefits.

The card is a way of ensuring that those who may have lost citizenship still have a meaningful way to engage with facilitating agencies for investment activities, he said.

Recent reforms have created a more conducive environment for business, particularly in agriculture, manufacturing and services, he said, citing the significant role played by Tanzanians abroad in attracting major Chinese investors to Tanzania.

Diaspora members need to consider taking shareholder roles in such ventures instead of just linking investors with opportunities. “Own part of these businesses so that you benefit directly from their success,” he urged.

|He similarly demanded that the Diaspora help promote tourism, “leveraging their unique position as cultural ambassadors in China,” crediting joint efforts wth the relevant agencies for a recent uptick in Chinese tourist arrivals.

 “Air Tanzania’s direct flights from Guangzhou to Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam, along with the successful launch of ‘Amazing Tanzania’ in Beijing and Guangzhou, have helped put Tanzania on the map,” he said.

Praising the Diaspora’s contribution to strengthening the country’s diplomatic footprint, he pointed at hosting cultural events to facilitating academic exchanges, enhancing Tanzania’s visibility abroad. 

A notable success has been the growth in partnerships between Tanzanian and Chinese universities, leading to more Tanzanian students enrolling in Chinese institutions. 

“These exchanges are helping us build a skilled, globally aware generation ready to lead Tanzania forward,” he added, urging Tanzanians in China to “maintain their patriotic spirit and remain proud ambassadors of their homeland.”