Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government yesterday launched five strategic Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in a bold move to transform Tanzania into Africa’s new manufacturing powerhouse.
The newly designated zones are aimed at boosting the manufacturing and trade of value-added products, improving citizens’ livelihoods and accelerating the country’s GDP growth.
The five SEZs include Buzwagi SEZ in Shinyanga spanning 1,333 hectares, Bagamoyo Eco Maritime City SEZ (151 hectares), Kwala SEZ in Coast Region (40.5 hectares), Nala SEZ in Dodoma (607 hectares) and expanding the existing Benjamin William Mkapa SEZ in Dar es Salaam with over 13,000 square metres.
All five SEZs are strategically connected to supporting infrastructure, including power supply, dry ports (Isaka in Shinyanga and Kwala in Coast Region), the Dar es Salaam Port and major roads.Plans are also in place to integrate them with the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), currently under construction.
Launching the National Promotion Campaign on Special Economic Zones yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Minister of State in the President’s Office (Planning and Investment), Professor Kitila Mkumbo, said the initiative is aligned with the upcoming National Development Vision 2050 (DIRA 2050), which seeks to transform Tanzania into a trillion-dollar economy anchored in manufacturing among other key sectors.
“Our vision is for every region to benefit from industrial growth and contribute to the national GDP. This aligns with our broader ambition to make Tanzania the industrial hub of Africa by leveraging our strategic location, fertile land, abundant natural resources and access to raw materials,” said Prof Mkumbo.
To reach the trillion-dollar economy milestone, Tanzania’s GDP growth rate must increase to 8 to 10 per cent by 2050, up from the current 5.5 per cent, he noted.
The minister added that the SEZs will prioritise employment-intensive projects, promote value addition, foster sectoral linkages and attract both domestic investment and joint ventures, which are critical for sustainable revenue generation.
“Investments in value addition will strengthen Tanzania’s position in international markets by focusing on exporting processed products,” Prof Mkumbo said.
He said that SEZs have been proven globally as an effective policy tool for attracting investment and spurring industrial development.
Prof Mkumbo directed the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) to ensure the zones gain visibility and attract both local and foreign investors. He also tasked TISEZA to collaborate closely with Local Government Authorities (LGAs) to support and guide investors across the country in seizing the economic opportunities within SEZs.
He called for intensified efforts in investment education to build confidence among local investors, encouraging them to inject capital into priority sectors such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and agro-processing.
“The government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan remains fully committed to creating a supportive investment climate through tax reforms and business-friendly incentives.
The government stands ready to support investments. We are open for engagement,” he said.
On his part, TISEZA Director General, Mr Gilead Teri said the SEZ strategy prioritises investment in ten key sectors, including pharmaceuticals, automotive assembly, electronics manufacturing, paper production, agro-processing and timber industries.
He encouraged domestic investors to partner with foreign counterparts in tapping into these strategic areas.
Mr Teri said that TISEZA will continue to roll out the National Promotion Campaign to equip Tanzanians with the knowledge required for strategic investments, enhancing economic inclusivity.
He also revealed that Tanzania currently boasts over 30,000 hectares of designated SEZ land and called on potential investors to unlock their full potential.
“TISEZA envisions positioning Tanzania as the safest investment destination in Africa and the leading economy in East Africa,” he said.
As part of the event, which brought together hundreds of domestic and international investors, TISEZA also launched an AIpowered chatbot designed to provide instant information to economic stakeholders interested in investing in Tanzania.
A local investor, Mr Amir Hamza, Chief Executive Officer of Amimza Limited, a coffee production company, said joint ventures under the SEZ model will help attract more capital and cutting-edge technologies, essential for industrial transformation.
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