‘India, Tanzania begin trade settlements in local currencies’

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that India and Tanzania have started trade settlements in local currencies and this new initiative will help in promoting commerce between the two countries.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on July 8 said that India and Tanzania have started trade settlements in local currencies and this new initiative will help in promoting commerce between the two countries.

Addressing industry leaders at a function, the Minister said India-Tanzania bilateral trade has seen very strong growth, and stood at $6.4 billion in 2022-23.

“Now, bear in mind, this is not only a very substantial bilateral trade, but it’s also actually a bilateral trade, which is getting increasingly balanced. Many new products are being added to the trade basket... India remains the biggest destination for Tanzanian exports,” he said.

“There’s also an issue which has been brought up from time to time, which is the possibility of trade settlements in our own currencies,” Mr. Jaishankar said.

“And I want to share with you that the India central bank has cleared such a possibility. So the three Indian banks, which are here, have that ability to do trade settlements in each other’s currencies.

"I am told few transactions have already taken place in Indian rupees and Tanzanian shillings, and certainly this will provide an additional mechanism to promote trade between our two countries," he said.

Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, and Canara Bank have operations in Tanzania.