Readout of Mayor Johnson’s official visit to Arusha, Tanzania

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2025

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Noah DeGarmo
Communications and Policy Coordinator
noah.degarmo@dallas.gov | (945) 225-1334

Readout of Mayor Johnson’s official visit to Arusha, Tanzania

Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson arrived in Arusha on the evening of Wednesday, July 23, following a meeting with Tanzanian aviation officials at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam in which they expressed interest in establishing direct flights to Dallas.

The next morning, Thursday, July 24, Mayor Johnson visited a coffee plantation in Arusha. Coffee is one of Tanzania’s top exports, with the United States importing nearly $40 million worth in 2024. The Mayor then visited the Arusha City Cultural Heritage Center, emphasizing the importance of cultural exchange, before joining District Commissioner Mwinyi Ahmed Mwinyi and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority Commissioner, Abdul-Razaq Badru, for a business lunch.

During the meeting, Mayor Johnson highlighted the recent signing of a Sister City agreement between Dallas and Dar es Salaam — Dallas’s first formal partnership with an African city. He noted that while the agreement directly connects these two cities, its benefits extend more broadly, strengthening ties between the United States and Tanzania and creating new opportunities for cities like Arusha in trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.

The Mayor expressed confidence that future growth in sectors such as tourism and exports will be traced back to the connections made by this historic visit. He stressed that while the Dallas-Tanzania relationship is not new, this trip has substantially deepened and advanced it.

To conclude the day, Mayor Johnson met Regional Commissioner Kenan Kihongosi for dinner and discussed the importance of cultural exchange and genuine international connections. He discussed potential tourism and student exchange partnerships and emphasized that the most important part of growing lasting relationships is showing up and being present.

Throughout his meetings in Arusha, Mayor Johnson promoted Dallas as a vital economic partner and anchor of one of America’s fastest-growing metro areas, highlighting its strategic central location and strong local economy.

On Friday, July 25, Mayor Johnson visited the Open Arms Clinic, a medical facility established with the support of a notable Dallas leader, Douglas D. Hawthorne, the founding CEO of Texas Health Resources. In 2011, Mr. Hawthorne and his wife Martha provided funding to serve over 10,000 Maasai people. The Mayor met with various doctors serving in the clinic, as well as the chief of the Maasai tribe.

Mayor Johnson then met with officials from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority to discuss best practices on parks and green space development and conservation. He visited the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before continuing to the Serengeti the following day, Saturday, July 26. The Mayor praised the region’s natural beauty and biodiversity, showcasing another opportunity for Dallas-Tanzania tourism collaboration.

Throughout his official visit to Arusha, Mayor Johnson was joined by Her Excellency Dr. Elsie Kanza, Ambassador of Tanzania to the United States. Together, they discussed opportunities to advance the next phase of the growing Dallas-Tanzania partnership.

Mayor Johnson is scheduled to return to Dallas on the afternoon of Sunday, July 27.

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