Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson is set to embark on an eight-day trade mission to Tanzania on Thursday, July 17, aiming to explore new economic opportunities and strengthen existing ties between the international cities.
Mayor Johnson will depart Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and arrive in Zanzibar, Tanzania, on Saturday, July 19. His itinerary includes visits to three Tanzanian cities: Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, and Arusha, before his return to Dallas on Monday, July 28.
“As an international city, Dallas is reinforcing the partnerships that make this city a stronger and economically resilient international hub,” said Mayor Johnson. “Dallas and Tanzania have long enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship, with a Tanzanian trade office opening in our city last year. I look forward to strengthening that bond and opening up new opportunities for long-term trade growth between Dallas and Tanzania.”
The upcoming trip follows significant developments in the Dallas-Tanzania relationship. In May 2024, Mayor Johnson officially established the Tanzanian American Chamber of Commerce (TACC) in the Dallas International District. The TACC now serves as a base to promote bilateral trade between Tanzania and the United States, with Dallas chosen as its headquarters due to its robust economy, strategic location, and growing reputation as the nation’s second financial capital.
The establishment of the TACC was the culmination of three years of relationship-building, initiated in August 2021 with a virtual meeting between Mayor Johnson and then-Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liberata Mulamula. Subsequent meetings, including a December 2021 meeting in Dallas with Her Excellency, Ambassador of Tanzania to the United States, Elsie Kanza, led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2022, laying out a plan for a Tanzanian presence in Dallas.
Ambassador Kanza, who welcomed a 16-member Tanzanian delegation to Dallas City Hall in May 2025, will accompany Mayor Johnson throughout his upcoming trip. "The bond between Dar es Salaam and Dallas is a shared vision for prosperity, innovation, and mutual respect,” said Ambassador Kanza. “Together, we are building bridges across continents that benefit our people, economies, and futures."
Dallas and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city, are at the forefront of U.S.-Africa trade, which currently exceeds $70 billion annually in imports and exports. The TACC headquarters uniquely positions Dallas to expand commerce with Tanzania. U.S. exports to Tanzania have more than doubled since 2022, and there is increasing potential to explore Tanzania as a reliable alternative source for critical minerals while continuing to boost exports in sectors such as agribusiness and technology. With the world’s largest nickel project and significant graphite reserves, Tanzania is emerging as a key supplier of essential raw materials needed by industries in Dallas and the broader U.S. market.
