Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has entered into a strategic partnership with the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) to strengthen its mining sector.

The collaboration aims to leverage Finnish expertise to improve mineral exploration, promote sustainable mining practices and attract foreign investment.

The agreement, entered into between GTK and the Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST), paves the way for in-depth mineral exploration, enhanced local expertise and sustainable practices.

Speaking yesterday, Minister of Minerals Anthony Mavunde highlighted the importance of collaboration, saying it will address key challenges in the sector.

“The main task ahead of us is to conduct in-depth research to discover underground minerals. So far, we have only managed to explore 16 percent of the country,” he said.

He further said that with Finland’s collaboration and expertise, Tanzania could make significant progress.

“I also took the opportunity to showcase the investment opportunities available in the Tanzanian mining sector and invited investors to come to Tanzania, as I strongly believe that we are one of the few countries with an environment conducive to doing business, especially in the mining sector,” he said. common.

Finland’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms. Theresa Zitting, said her country’s expertise in smart and sustainable mining aligns well with Tanzania’s vision for the sector.

“Finnish companies can play a central role in introducing innovative business models, circular economy practices and efficient resource management.

These solutions will strengthen Tanzania’s efforts to create value chains in the country while emphasizing environmental management,” she said.

Ms Zitting further highlighted the strong partnership between GTK and GST, based on a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year.

“This collaboration demonstrates our shared commitment to knowledge exchange, capacity building and joint initiatives that will enhance mineral exploration and processing for the benefit of both countries,” she added.

GTK’s Director of International Operations, Mr. Philipp Schmidt, reiterated Finland’s commitment to supporting Tanzania in the digitalization of its geological services.

“Tanzania has the fourth largest graphite reserves in the world, with the highest quality graphite. Our aim is to assist the Tanzania Geological Survey in identifying and managing these resources,” he said.

Mr Schmidt also said GTK would help attract investment, improve mineral processing, manage mining environments and help local businesses secure third-party financing.

On the other hand, Humphrey Simba, CEO of ASNL Advisory, who worked with the Finnish Embassy to organize the meeting, described the collaboration as a vital step for Tanzania’s mining future.

“This was an important platform to connect key private and public sector players to support the continued growth of the mining industry and its contribution to the Tanzanian economy,” he said.

As global demand for minerals increases, Tanzania’s bold steps to prioritize sustainable practices and attract foreign expertise could position it as a leading mining destination.