by DALLAS — Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson will travel on Thursday to Tanzania to explore trade opportunities and strengthen longstanding economic ties between Tanzania and Dallas.
Mayor Johnson will depart Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on Thursday, July 17 and arrive in Zanzibar, Tanzania on Saturday, July 19. He will spend eight days in Tanzania before returning to Dallas on Monday, July 28. During his trip, Mayor Johnson will visit three Tanzanian cities: Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, and Arusha.
“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.”
In May 2024, Mayor Johnson officially established the Tanzanian American Chamber of Commerce (TACC) in the Dallas International District, which now serves as a base to promote bilateral trade between Tanzania and the United States. Dallas was selected to be the headquarters of the TACC because of its robust economy, strategic geographic location, and rising profile as the nation’s second financial capital.
The opening of the TACC marked the culmination of three years of relationship building between Dallas and Tanzania, which began in August 2021 with a virtual meeting between Mayor Johnson and the Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liberata Mulamula. The following December, Mayor Johnson met in Dallas with Her Excellency, Ambassador of Tanzania to the United States, Elsie Kanza. Together, they laid out a plan to establish a Tanzanian presence in Dallas, signing a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2022.
Mayor Johnson has continued to work with Ambassador Kanza to foster a close partnership between Dallas and Tanzania. In May 2025, he welcomed a 16-member Tanzanian delegation, including Ambassador Kanza, at Dallas City Hall. Ambassador Kanza 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, the largest city in Tanzania, are at the forefront of U.S.-Africa trade, which now amounts to over $70 billion per year in imports and exports, and the TACC headquarters uniquely positions Dallas to expand commerce with Tanzania. US exports to Tanzania have more than doubled since 2022, and there is a growing opportunity to explore Tanzania as a reliable alternative source for critical minerals while continuing to increase exports including 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.
