Kwaheri Ambassador Jeroen Verheul

What moment you are most proud of as Ambassador in Tanzania representing the Dutch agricultural sector?

An Ambassador never is the sole representative, he or she can only truly represent any sector with the support of the experts within that sector. And I am proud to have been supported so ably during my posting here by the agriculture team. 

If I have to choose a moment out of many that I would consider highlights, I would like to remember the visit we paid to the Ocean Warrior, a vessel managed by an NGO called Sea Shepard that has been employed to work with Tanzanian services aiming at curbing illegal and unreported fishing in the Indian Ocean. Their action has been incredibly successful in bringing down illegal fishing and enhancing catch opportunities for indigenous fishermen and –women. The Dutch government had nothing to do with this mission, it was completely funded by private sources and volunteer work, but I was proud to see such an environmentally and socially beneficial action in the fisheries sector implemented by enthusiastic volunteers. 

What are your plans for the coming years, will agriculture be part of your future plan as it is for many Tanzanians?

After my four years in Tanzania, my family and I will move to Accra, Ghana. I am fortunate to have a resident Agricultural Counsellor at my new Embassy in Accra. Cooperation in the field of agriculture is strong with countries in West Africa. As I am accredited to 4 West African countries (also Togo, Sierra Leone and Liberia), I expect agricultural exchange to remain an important component of my daily work.

What lessons did you learn during your stay in Tanzania, which of these lessons would you like to share with the sector?

Patience is an essential ingredient for working successfully in Tanzania. The wheels of government and business move extremely slowly in this country, especially if you want to change existing patterns or practices. But as everywhere else, seeing is believing and I have seen so many farmers, having been exposed to new practices, picking them up quickly and using that to benefit their small enterprises. I am also extremely encouraged by the dynamism of young entrepreneurs in Tanzania. The startup eco system is underdeveloped but also shows huge potential for addressing challenges such as low productivity, population growth and absorbing young people entering the labor market. Our Embassy tries to tap into the potential of these young entrepreneurs and support them in achieving their growth ambitions. Progress we see is not as fast as we would like it, so I have learned that being patient and appreciating small steps forward is a quality you need to be equipped with when working in Tanzania. 

What advice would you give to your successor, the sector and Tanzania?

I would advise the sector and Tanzania to remain open to change and open to learning from experiences elsewhere. If seed potatoes from the Netherlands prove to be far more productive and disease resistant that indigenous varieties, why not embrace and propagate them? Foreign companies and embassies are gatekeepers to open up opportunities emanating from lessons learnt and experiences gathered abroad. To Tanzania I would say: use those opportunities and to my successor I would say: continue to provide the opportunities to this exposure.

Do you have any advice for the Dutch business thinking to invest in Tanzania?

Slowly business in Tanzania is picking up, recovering from the Covid epidemic and the setbacks recently experienced in the investment climate, such as the cancellation by Tanzania of the bilateral investment protection agreement between the Netherlands and Tanzania. Tanzania has huge potential for Dutch businesses, but tapping into that potential requires a lot of patience and stamina. If an entrepreneur is in for a short term investment and a quick win, then Tanzania is not a destination I would recommend. If you’re in for the long haul and manage your expectations accordingly, investing in Tanzania provides you with a bumpy, but often ultimately profitable ride.