“It was really a fruitful trip and we were able to make many contacts in the few days we were in Tanzania.”
Klaas B.J. Overlade, ZBC.
Nine Danish companies and educational institutions were signed up for our latest delegation to Tanzania, made in cooperation with the Danish Agriculture & Food Council and the Danish Embassy in Tanzania to explore business opportunities, meet potential partners and gain first-hand knowledge of the Tanzanian agribusiness market. During the visit, the delegation held 43 individual and joint meetings with Tanzanian businesses and educational institutions.
“We expanded our network and met potential customers”
For LINCO Incubator CEO Harry Sørensen, the delegation was an opportunity to build relationships and identify potential customers:
“I had a good trip and brought a lot of value home with me. We expanded our network and met potential customers. We had meetings with six interesting companies, and some of them were very positive surprises. They had more control of their business than many European companies.
I always ask to see their warehouse. If it is tidy and clean, you know that they have things under control. These are the companies we will work with in a more focused way going forward.
My experience is that when you work with Access2innovation – and especially with Henrik Anker-Ladefoged – things work. That is why we take part in the delegation trips. As long as A2i is a co-organiser, we will go again. A2i can do something very special when it comes to finding the right local companies.”
Strong interest in cooperation on vocational education
The delegation also brought an educational perspective. Zealand Business College (ZBC) is among the educational institutions showing increasing interest in opportunities in Africa. During the trip, ZBC met a number of Tanzanian TVET institutions and potential partners.
“It was really a fruitful trip and we were able to make many contacts in the few days we were in Tanzania. The visit gave us a very positive impression of both the engagement and the potential for closer cooperation between Danish and Tanzanian vocational education institutions,” says Klaas B.J. Overlade, International Special Consultant at ZBC.
“We met a number of relevant TVET institutions and partners and experienced a strong interest in practical education, cooperation with companies and skills that match the needs of the labour market. We see good opportunities to turn the dialogue into concrete partnerships and cooperation in Tanzania in the coming years. A big thank you also goes to Kenneth Onesmo, Access2innovation’s Country Representative in Tanzania. His local network and his work organizing visits and creating the right contacts were a great help throughout the trip.”
A growing market for Danish solutions
Tanzania’s agricultural sector employs approximately 70% of the population and is undergoing a transition from subsistence farming towards more commercial farming. At the same time, urbanization and a growing middle class are increasing demand for agricultural products. This creates opportunities for Danish companies within areas such as production and processing equipment, cold chains, packaging, and storage.
Jeppe Søndergaard Pedersen, International Chief Advisor at the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, sees considerable potential for cooperation:
“The agricultural sector plays a crucial role in Tanzania’s economy, and the country is close to reaching lower-middle-income status. The agricultural sector is becoming more competitive and profitable as Tanzania moves from subsistence farming towards more commercial farming.
At the same time, urbanisation is high, the middle class is growing and demand for agricultural production is increasing. This creates opportunities for Danish companies with solutions within high-quality production and processing, cold-chain facilities, packaging and storage.
There are also challenges around quality control, particularly in relation to Tanzanian agricultural exports. This is an area where Danish companies have relevant solutions and experience.”
Join us next time
The next Access2innovation delegation will travel to Kenya in February 2027.
