H.E. Anderson Gukwi Mutatembwa, Ambassador-Designate of the United Republic of Tanzania to Japan, submitted a copy of his Letter of Credence to Ambassador Miyashita Tadayuki, Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA), on November 19, 2025. Ambassador Miyashita was accompanied by the Deputy Chief of Protocol, Mr. Ichiba Hiroaki, and other senior officials from the Protocol Division.
During the meeting, Ambassador Miyashita warmly welcomed H.E. Mutatembwa and point out the long-standing and friendly relations between Japan and Tanzania. He highlighted Japan’s appreciation for Tanzania’s growing importance as a strategic gateway for trade and investment in Eastern and Southern Africa. He noted that many Japanese companies view Tanzania as a promising market; and urged the Government of Tanzania to continue facilitating a conducive investment environment for Japanese private sector actors.

In his remarks, H.E. Mutatembwa expressed his sincere gratitude for the Government of Japan’s longstanding support for Tanzania's socioeconomic development. He reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the long-existing bilateral relations of Tanzania and Japan. He further pointed out Tanzania’s strategic location as a member of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which together represent a substantial market and vast economic potential. He reiterated Tanzania’s readiness to expand trade with Japan, noting that major exports include coffee, tobacco, sesame, fish products, spices, and precious metals. He informed about a Japan-Tanzania Business Dialogue that scheduled for the following day, during which both sides would discuss achievements, challenges, and opportunities to deepen economic collaboration.

Ambassador Miyashita responded by highlighting the popularity of Tanzanian coffee in Japan, particularly Kilimanjaro coffee, which is known for its high quality and strong market reputation. He also expressed Japan’s admiration for Tanzania’s world-renowned athletes, whose legacy remains well-regarded among the Japanese public.

The conversation also focused on promoting tourism and culture, including the Kiswahili language and Tanzania's famous landmarks such as Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, and Zanzibar, among others, as top destinations, as well as the importance of partnerships with local governments. Both sides acknowledged the existing Memorandum of Cooperation between Dodoma City and Nagai City and expressed a willingness to broaden such partnerships to include additional municipalities.

The duo also discussed pending development support requests, including the key road infrastructure projects, namely, the Morogoro–Dodoma Road and the Kibiti–Lindi Road, which were presented to the Government of Japan during the former Prime Minister of Tanzania’s visit in May 2025. Both sides agreed on the importance of continued policy consultations to determine future cooperation priorities.

Ambassador Miyashita encouraged H.E. Mutatembwa to expand his diplomatic and parliamentary networks in Japan to further strengthen the enduring friendly relations between the two countries, while noting the strong relations that already exist. He recommended scheduling regular follow-up meetings with senior officials from the Government of Japan.

The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to advancing the comprehensive partnership between Tanzania and Japan.