Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 6hIn Arusha, a pleasure to meet Prof. Mathias Sahinkuye and Assah Mwambene of the African Institute of International Law. Training legal professionals across Africa, the Institute uses French alongside English. Our Embassy helped fund interpretation at a recent event. 010
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 9hFrench expertise is also shaping TPC's future: a $54M distillery project to turn molasses into high-value alcohol, with distillation engineering by French firm INTERIS and a planned 15% stake for Réunion's Isautier. From agricultural research to industrial innovation! 010
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 9hFrench expertise is at work in TPC's fields. Seven of its 14 sugarcane varieties come from Réunion, while French research institute CIRAD works with TPC on biological pest control. A concrete contribution to more sustainable and productive agriculture. 110
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 9hVisiting Tanganyika Planting Company (TPC) near Moshi: 8,000 hectares of sugarcane, 110,000 tonnes of sugar a year and 4,000 jobs. Since its privatisation in 2000, TPC has shared 26 years of history with French investors, from Réunion's Quartier Français to Tereos. 111
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 14hBehind this meticulous work are 140 employees, 85% of them women. Chani Kiwiti illustrates how French entrepreneurship in Tanzania can combine specialised agricultural expertise, local employment and access to international markets. 011
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 14hA highly specialised process: meticulous hand pollination between carefully selected parent lines to produce hybrid seeds for more productive and resilient crops. A remarkable combination of agricultural science, precision and human expertise. 111
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 14hCucumbers, gherkins, watermelons, chillies, squash and melons: at Chani Kiwiti, these crops are grown not for consumption, but to produce hybrid seeds! The entire production, cultivated on just 4 hectares, is destined for international markets. 111
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 14h🌿 Continuing my encounters with French entrepreneurs in northern Tanzania! In Moshi, I visited Joseph Giovinazzo, who has lived in Tanzania since 2000. In 2018, he founded Chani Kiwiti, a company specialising in the production of hybrid seeds for export. 122
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 07/10/2026🐘 And one last Chem Chem moment before leaving. Behind one emblematic species lies a much larger story: protecting ecosystems, biodiversity and the connections that sustain them. 041
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 07/10/2026The wider goal is connectivity: the Kwakuchinja Wildlife Corridor links the Tarangire and Lake Manyara ecosystems, allowing wildlife to move between them. In 2021, elephants reached Lake Manyara through the corridor for the first time in decades. 111
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 07/10/20264/4 The clearest case for conservation is what you see on the ground. Chem Chem’s concession holds an extraordinary density of wildlife, including large numbers of elephants - a powerful reminder of what protecting habitat can achieve. 110
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Under a tree, I met women from several local communities who use microcredit to develop small businesses, including traditional handicrafts. Access to finance and basic financial skills can make a real difference to household income and independence. 010
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 07/10/20263/4 Chem Chem also supports neighbouring communities through its foundation: schools, education, financial literacy and small-business support. A reminder that conservation works best when local communities benefit from it too. 120
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 07/10/20262/4 Conservation in action: Chem Chem supports a 36-strong joint ranger team protecting the Kwakuchinja Wildlife Corridor. Anti-poaching patrols and incident mapping guide their work, while a new monitoring centre strengthens coordination with Tanzanian authorities. 010
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 07/10/20261/4 A day at Chem Chem, between Tarangire and Lake Manyara, with French entrepreneur Nicolas Nègre, in Tanzania for over two decades. A strong example of sustainable tourism, combining "Slow Safari", conservation, local development and solar-powered camps. 021
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 05/10/2026🥁 Another musical interlude at #IPU153 000
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Since 1889, the Inter-Parliamentary Union has connected parliaments worldwide to advance dialogue, peace and democracy. This week, for the first time, an IPU Assembly is taking place in Tanzania 🇹🇿, home of IPU President Dr Tulia Ackson. #IPU153 020
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 05/10/2026 A musical start to #IPU153 in Arusha! 000
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 05/10/2026A warm welcome in Arusha to French parliamentarians Véronique Riotton, Marie-Noëlle Battistel and Michelle Gréaume for #IPU153, with two officials from the National Assembly and Senate. Laetitia Saint-Paul is also taking part, with Senate VP Xavier Iacovelli joining shortly. 000
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Arrived in Arusha for the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, bringing together parliamentarians from around the world. A few days of meetings and visits ahead in this strikingly green and beautiful city, at around 1,500m. 031
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Wonderful evening with Peponi: 8 young Tanzanian dancers led by French choreographer Matthieu Nieto, back in Dar after a 5-country Southern African tour. A bold new creation by House of Wondar, nurturing local talent with financial support from France. 000
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 01/10/2026A wonderful evening at the Residence with 200+ members of Dar es Salaam’s French community - a chance to meet, exchange and celebrate the diversity of those who make France present in Tanzania. 010
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 01/10/2026One month after arriving in Tanzania, I was very keen to bring together Dar es Salaam’s French community. Last night, 200+ of us met at the Residence - a chance to take the pulse of this diverse community, listen, exchange and get to know each other better. 000
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 01/10/2026✈️ Great discussion with Rajat Kumar, Air France-KLM Country Manager in Tanzania. Paris-Kilimanjaro-Zanzibar has become one of the group’s most profitable routes, reflecting Tanzania’s growing appeal to French travellers. More connections, more tourism, closer ties. 000
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Lunch with my new US colleague William Trachman, who, like me, arrived in Tanzania only weeks ago. France and the US are historic allies, and our cooperation remains close on the ground. Good to compare notes on Tanzania, the region and our shared priorities. 000
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Another attempt in Kiswahili! Inside TotalEnergies' lubricant plant in Dar es Salaam - the largest of its kind in East Africa. 60 jobs, local production covering 90-95% of Tanzania’s demand, and solar power supplying 28% of the plant’s electricity. 000
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Great meeting with Cynthia Isimbi, Sciences Po’s East Africa representative, visiting Tanzania to encourage more students to apply. Many programmes are taught in English, with fully funded scholarships for eligible Master’s candidates. Only 3 Tanzanian alumni so far! 000
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 30/09/2026We also inaugurated "Ocean: An Unusual Dive", an exhibition conceived and produced by Paris’ Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. From deep-sea biodiversity to coastal resilience, better knowledge of the ocean is essential to protect ecosystems, coastal communities and the blue economy. 🌊🐙 000
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Honoured to open a scientific dialogue at the Alliance Française de Dar es Salaam, bringing together French and Tanzanian experts on the Western Indian Ocean. Ahead of #COP12, science is key to understanding climate impacts and protecting coastal ecosystems. 100
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Great lunch with Anna Merrifield, my new Finnish colleague in Tanzania. From Martti Ahtisaari’s legacy to today’s EU partnership, Finland has deep ties with Tanzania. Lots to build on together: climate action, green growth, digital innovation & investment. 010
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Local production also means a lower footprint: a 150 kWp solar installation currently covers 28% of the plant’s electricity use, with a 45% self-sufficiency target. 60 people work on site. A concrete example of France’s industrial presence in Tanzania. 001
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 29/09/2026The plant supplies 90-95% of TotalEnergies’ local lubricant demand. Around 15,000 tonnes are produced annually, with nearly 20 million litres marketed in Tanzania. TotalEnergies estimates its share of the Tanzanian lubricants market at 35%. 100
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Visit to TotalEnergies’ lubricant blending plant in Dar es Salaam. Present in Tanzania since 1969, the French group operates here the largest lubricant and oil blending plant in East Africa, producing lubricants, coolants and greases for Tanzania and the region. 100
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Excellent discussion with Paul-André Calatayud, IRD rep for East Africa. French-Tanzanian research cooperation is tackling concrete challenges: protecting rice crops, developing sustainable marine aquaculture, monitoring climate change & advancing a new malaria vaccine. 000
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 27/09/2026#SAADANI 8- A warm thank you to my guide Hamis, who has worked in Saadani National Park for around twenty years and knows its wildlife and plants remarkably well. His explanations of how the park’s different ecosystems work made the visit especially rewarding. 030
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 27/09/2026#SAADANI 7- Tourism is a major sector for French entrepreneurs in Tanzania. A visit to Saadani Kasa Bay, part of Tanganyika Expedition, founded by Denis Lebouteux. Great team, French-speaking staff, and an excellent address for visitors to Saadani! 020
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Closer to the Indian Ocean, coastal birds take over - terns, gulls, sandpipers and other shorebirds using beaches, mudflats and mangroves. In Saadani, a short distance can take you from savannah species to river and marine birdlife. 000
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Along the Wami River, the cast changes: African fish eagles, kingfishers, herons, egrets, storks and other waders follow the water, feeding along muddy banks, reedbeds and shallow channels. 110
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 27/09/2026#SAADANI 6- Saadani is also a great place for birdlife. Across the savannah, raptors scan the grasslands while hornbills, rollers, bee-eaters, weavers and other passerines add colour and movement to the bush. 141
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Look closely at the roots and another ecosystem appears: barnacles and small molluscs attach themselves to the wood, while the maze of roots shelters juvenile fish and countless other organisms between high and low tide. 010
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 27/09/2026#SAADANI 5- Near Kasa Bay, Saadani’s mangroves include red, black and other mangrove species adapted to different levels of salt and tidal flooding. Among them is Xylocarpus granatum, the "cannonball mangrove", named after its large round fruits. 101
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 27/09/2026#SAADANI 4- Saadani is where Tanzania’s savannah meets the Indian Ocean. Its long, largely undeveloped beach forms the coastal edge of the park - a unique setting in East Africa, where large wildlife lives just inland from the sea. 0111
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 27/09/2026#SAADANI 3- At Saadani, seawater is channelled into shallow salt pans, where sun and wind gradually concentrate the brine until salt crystallises. Salt production has long been part of the economy of this stretch of Tanzania’s coast. 011
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Mud is a crucial part of the Wami ecosystem. Hippos use it to keep cool and protect their skin, while the muddy banks and shallows support insects, molluscs, fish and countless other small organisms that sustain the river’s food web. 001
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 27/09/2026The Wami is also a wildlife corridor in its own right. Elephants are sometimes seen entering the river to drink or bathe - although not today - while the banks support monkeys, antelopes and a wide range of birdlife. 100
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 27/09/2026#SAADANI 2- From Saadani’s savannah to the Wami River: another side of the park. A boat safari offers close views of hippos and Nile crocodiles along a broad tropical river flowing towards the Indian Ocean. 111
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Saadani also stands out for its setting: large mammals roam just inland from the Indian Ocean - and during the rainy season, elephants are sometimes even seen walking along the beach. A remarkable meeting of savannah and coast. 021
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Tanzania has one of Africa’s largest networks of protected areas. Its 21 national parks alone cover around 97,000 km² - before adding game reserves, conservation areas and other protected lands. 120
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer @jbjv.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Saadani is unique among Tanzania’s national parks: around 1,100 km² of savannah, woodland and coastal ecosystems along the Indian Ocean. On land, its landscapes support a remarkable diversity of large mammals. 120