# Tanzania interested in India’s defence capabilities

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2022/09/tanzania-interested-in-indias-defence-capabilities/
- Published: 2022-09-06T13:06:28+01:00
- Author: Patrick Kenyette

A delegation from Tanzania visited India to look at the country’s indigenous defence
industry, and to explore opportunities for collaboraton. Tanzanian Defence minister
Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax was herself leading the charge of the delegation consisting
of Senior Armed Forces officials. On August 29, they visited the manufacturing facilities
of Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) manufacturer of ammunition and missile systems.

The minister was accompanied by senior officials from the Tanzanian Armed Forces,
the Indian Defense Advisor accredited to Tanzania, and officials from the Indian
Ministry of Defense, where they were briefed about the products that BDL is offering
for exports.

“Honoured by the visit of HE Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Defence Minister, Tanzania
at BDL today. The visit will further strengthen Defence Cooperation existing between
India and Tanzania and will give a fillip to the export of ‘Made in India’ defence
products.”

The Minister was received by Shri P Radhakrishna, Director (Production), BDL. Shri
N Srinivasulu, Director (Finance), Dr. Upender Vennam, IPoS, Chief Vigilance Officer,
BDL, and other senior officials from BDL were present. A display of products and
equipment by other Defence Public Sector Undertakings, private industry, and start-
ups was also organized at BDL.

According to a Press release by the BDL, the company is ready to export Anti-Tank
Guided Missiles, Surface-to-Air Missiles, Underwater weapons, Counter Measure Dispensing
systems, Drone delivered bombs and Drone delivered missiles to the African nation.
In a tweet, BDL further wrote, “The visit will further strengthen Defence Cooperation
existing between India and Tanzania and will give a fillip to the export of ‘Made
in India’ defence products”.

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Tanzania and India already have an existing relationship, especially in the area
of defence. On 26 August, India and Tanzania agreed on the formation of a task force
to prepare a five-year ‘future road map’ for enhancing defence cooperation between
both countries and to hold the next Joint Defence Cooperation meeting in Tanzania
at an early date. This was agreed upon at the bilateral meeting between Defence 
Minister Rajnath Singh and the Tanzanian Minister of Defence and National Service
Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax on Friday.

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“A wide range of issues concerning bilateral, regional, and defence industrial cooperation
were discussed during the meeting. The two Ministers reviewed the existing military-
to-military activities and discussed ways to enhance cooperation in all domains 
with a focus on defence industry cooperation,” a Ministry statement said.

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Mr. Singh also invited his Tanzanian counterpart to the ‘India-Africa Defence Dialogue’
and DefExpo which is scheduled to be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat between October
18 to 22.

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