Introduction

Diplomacy is the means through which actors in the international arena interact, these actors can either be states or non-state entities such as international organisations and prominent individuals; to facilitate the seamless management of these interactions, states use diplomatic representation in the form of embassies (or high commissions, in the case of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth), consulates and permanent missions (these are specifically towards international organisations such as the United Nations and its agencies).

To the ordinary Tanzanian going about their normal everyday-business, embassies and consulates may merely be regarded as offices where government officials and celebrities go for visas and passports but the importance of embassies and consulates goes further than that as this writing has briefly elaborated.

Why is Diplomatic Representation Important?

Maintaining Bilateral Relations Between States with Shared History

Embassies play a vital role in sustaining profitable relations between states that possess a shared history between them, for instance, Tanzania, as principal to its foreign policy, maintains good bilateral relations with countries that used Tanzania as its base of operations during their fighting for independence from colonialists. Tanzania has diplomatic representation in countries such as Namibia, Mozambique, and South Africa, all of which were supported by Tanzania in their fight for independence.

Despite being rooted in historical bonds and nationalistic affiliations, the presence of diplomatic representation in these countries has subsequently opened doors for the smooth flow of labour and potential partnerships in other sectors, as witnessed through the recent pique of interest of the Tanzania and Namibia’s partnership in the tourism sector.

Enhancing Public Diplomacy

Diplomatic representation promotes public relations for the sending country; they ensure the image of their home state is perceived positively by the general public of the receiving country. This is usually through cultural exhibitions, community projects, and constant communication to the public on the different issues and events related to their home country. One can say embassies and consulates are marketing and public relations firms serving the interests of the home country in the host country; this is why in the official websites of many Tanzanian embassies, there are pages dedicated to showing potential investment areas as it is through this form of marketing and “advertisement” that foreign direct investment is made possible domestically.

Conclusion

On top of the significance discussed above, embassies, consulates and permanent missions are an integral part to any nations domestic prosperity as they facilitate the “reconnaissance”, lobbying and the securing of important bilateral and multilateral partnerships that eventually benefit a local resident. Some of the many products and accessories used in the day-to-day life are consistently available for purchase in our street shops and marketplaces because of the extensive negotiations and eventual treaty signings initiated in the embassies, consulates and permanent missions of our countries.

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