On October 2, 2026, a Tanzanian delegation visited various facilities in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region as part of the EU-Tanzania roadshow. The agribusiness program included visits to Apofruit-Almaverde, Martini Group, and Unitec. These companies specialize in post-harvest management, meat production, and fruit-sorting equipment. The delegation, led by Tanzania's Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Hon. David Ernest Silinde, aimed to identify potential partnership opportunities.
At Apofruit-Almaverde in Pievesestina, the delegation learned about the company's post-harvest chain management, including fruit reception, quality control, and cold storage. The program focused on technologies used to manage produce after harvest, such as cold storage and shelf-life management. This visit highlighted potential areas for collaboration in improving Tanzania's agricultural sector.
The Martini Group visit in Longiano showcased the company's operations in meat production, livestock farming, and animal feed. The company's food and livestock divisions are supported by laboratories, research centers, and production plants. The delegation identified potential partnership opportunities related to livestock development in Tanzania.
The visit to Unitec covered fruit-sorting and grading equipment, including machine-vision and AI systems applicable to crops such as avocados. The program also included training and skills development at the company's campus. This technology has the potential to enhance Tanzania's agricultural productivity and efficiency.
A separate digital group, led by Tanzania's Deputy Minister of State in the President's Office for Planning and Investment, Hon. Dr. Pius Stephen Chaya, visited facilities focused on AI, data infrastructure, and railway technologies. The University of Bologna's Cesena campus was visited, where the delegation learned about the LabE - Excellence Laboratory 4.0 and work involving the university's engineering and computer-science departments.
The delegation also visited DAMA-Data Manufacture Emilia-Romagna Tecnopolo in Bologna, which brings together high-performance computing and data infrastructure. The site includes the European supercomputer operated by CINECA and the data center of the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics. This visit highlighted the potential for Tanzania to leverage advanced technologies in its development.
The final visit was to the Bologna San Donato Dynamic Railway Test Circuit and the High-Speed Railway Technology Simulation Centre. The facility tests rolling stock and railway systems, as well as onboard and trackside technologies. The program covered the use of IT and AI in railway safety, traffic management, and signalling, providing valuable insights for Tanzania's railway development.
Key points
- The EU-Tanzania roadshow aims to present Tanzania's investment opportunities to European companies.
- The Tanzanian delegation visited various Italian facilities to explore agribusiness, AI, and railway technologies.
- The visits focused on identifying potential partnership opportunities for Tanzania's development.
