Summary:
- Economic and political ties between Tanzania and China are growing and may deepen further through a new investment centre in the Chinese province of Hunan.
- Tanzania has a unique political economy history domestically and within the subregion. Further, it has made several first-in-Africa moves in collaboration with China.
- It was the first country to open an official investment centre in China’s Africa zone in Hunan province – a sign of deeper China–Africa collaboration.
- This policy insight examines the investment centre and the ‘Hunan Model’ agenda in which it is anchored.
- It also outlines several first-mover turning points in the political-economy history of China and Tanzania, including the Tazara Railway and Tanzania’s support for Beijing at the UN.
- This points to a forward view of China–Africa ambitions in terms of industrial and agricultural development – as well as the alleviation of poverty and hunger.
