Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania Hotels and City Guide

Dar Es Salaam - Business Tips

Tanzania's Local Economy

Despite a wealth of natural resources (natural gas, gold, diamonds, nickel, cobalt, copper and base metals, iron ore, coal, hydropower, tin, phosphates, and gemstones including fabulous tanzanite), Tanzania remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The World Bank, IMF and other international donors have stepped in to fund Tanzania’s economy in a bid to reduce poverty and to improve rail and port infrastructure, vital for trade links with inland countries.

The economy is reliant on tourism, agriculture and mining. It is expected to grow from 2011-2013, although it is still heavily dependent on foreign donors and suffers from overweight bureaucracy.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, employing 80% of the labour force. The country grows coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum, cashew nuts, sugar, tobacco, cloves, corn, wheat, cassava, fruit and vegetables. It farms cattle, sheep and goats.

Industries include food processing, construction, communications and electricity, mining (gold, diamonds, tanzanite and iron), oil refining, brewing and bottling. Salt, soda ash, cement, steel, fertilizers are produced. Clothing and leather goods are made as are wood products.

Exports consist of gold, diamonds, tanzanite, coffee, tea, cashew nuts, cotton and sisal. The country’s main export partners are India, China, Japan, Netherlands, UAE, Germany, South Africa, Kenya and Zambia.

Imports, which account for more than its exports, are consumer goods, transportation equipment, machinery, industrial raw materials, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and crude oil for refining. Import partners are India, China, South Africa, Kenya, UAE and Japan.

Dar es Salaam has a Stock Exchange as well as a major university, the University of Dar es Salaam which has five campuses within the radius of the city. Faculties include: Arts & Humanities, Business & Social Sciences, Engineering, Language & Cultural Studies, Medicine & Health, Science & Technology. The fifth campus is home to the School of Journalism and Mass Education.

Business Tips and Ettiquette

Business Hours and Meetings

Business hours are Mon-Fri 08.00-12.00, 14.00-16.30; Sat 08.00-12.30. Meetings should be arranged in advance and not during the lunch period. Confirm appointments by telephone the day before.

Punctuality is not a general African concept and Tanzania often works to ‘Swahili time’, but nevertheless do not be late for meetings.

Dress Code and Customs

Men should wear lightweight suits. Women should cover their shoulders and backs. Tanzanian businesswomen wear skirts, but it is acceptable for foreign businesswomen to wear trousers.

English is the language of business. Greetings, handshakes and some small talk are signs of courtesy when first meeting and in forming a personal relationship with your Tanzanian colleagues. Note that men and women do not normally shake hands.

Business associates should be addressed by their official titles or by Mr, Mrs, Ms.

If invited to a Tanzanian’s home, take a small gift from your own country. Do not give flowers to the hostess as they are associated with death.

Hotels in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania