(DAR ES SALAAM) – Singapore has opened negotiations for a free trade agreement with the East African Community, a regional bloc that includes South Sudan, in a move aimed at expanding trade flows between Asia and one of Africa’s fastest growing regional markets.
The proposed agreement would be Singapore’s first trade pact with an African regional grouping and the first time the East African Community engages in such negotiations with a partner outside Africa.
The East African Community comprises Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania.
The announcement was made during a state visit by Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to Tanzania, where he held talks with President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Dar es Salaam.
President Tharman said the proposed agreement would strengthen trade links, improve market access for goods and services, and create new areas of economic growth between both regions.
He added that the arrangement would help diversify trade networks at a time when global economic conditions remain uncertain and international cooperation is under pressure.
Under the proposed framework, East African exporters could gain improved access to Singapore and the wider Association of Southeast Asian Nations market, while Singaporean firms would benefit from new opportunities across East Africa, including infrastructure, services and digital trade.
The inclusion of South Sudan in the East African Community bloc places the country within a wider regional trade negotiation that could influence future export opportunities, investment flows and private sector development.
For South Sudan, which continues to focus on stabilising its economy and expanding trade capacity, improved regional access to Asian markets could support sectors such as agriculture, energy and basic manufactured goods if implementation is successful.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan said Tanzania welcomed deeper engagement with Singapore and supported the idea of a trade agreement that could strengthen economic ties between East Africa and Asia.
She noted that while trade relations between Tanzania and Singapore have grown, they have not yet reached their full potential.
She also invited Singapore to establish a diplomatic mission in Tanzania to support growing bilateral relations.
The visit marked the first time a Singapore president has travelled to Tanzania and coincided with the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
During the visit, both sides also signed a series of agreements covering trade facilitation, carbon markets, taxation and skills development.
One of the key agreements involves avoidance of double taxation on cross border business activity, aimed at reducing costs for companies operating between the two countries and encouraging investment flows.
Another agreement focuses on cooperation in carbon markets, including exchange of technical knowledge and development of emissions reduction frameworks.
Officials said the tax agreement will support long term investment planning by providing clearer rules for businesses operating across both jurisdictions.
Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also agreed with Tanzania to expand policy consultations on economic cooperation and international issues of mutual interest.
President Tharman highlighted ongoing collaboration in sectors such as healthcare, climate resilience and education.
He pointed to a medical partnership involving Singapore’s Duke NUS Graduate Medical School and Tanzania’s Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, which is focused on improving treatment and research related to sickle cell disease.
The condition affects thousands of newborns annually in Tanzania and remains a major public health challenge across parts of Africa, with implications for healthcare spending and workforce productivity.
Singapore said the partnership reflects its broader approach of combining research, training and technical cooperation to support development outcomes in partner countries.
Africa is increasingly viewed by Singapore as a key growth region, supported by expanding infrastructure demand, urbanisation and rising consumer markets.
Singapore has also been strengthening its presence in Africa, including plans announced in 2025 to open an embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as part of a wider strategy to deepen economic and diplomatic ties across the continent.
At a state banquet in Dar es Salaam, President Tharman said the agreements signed reflect the potential for practical cooperation between countries of different size and economic structure, particularly in areas such as trade, climate policy and skills development.
President Hassan said Tanzania looks forward to expanding cooperation with Singapore in trade and investment, noting that both sides can benefit from sharing expertise and strengthening economic links.