Investment drive opens new doors for housing, jobs and urban growth in Tanzania

DAR ES SALAAM: THE scale of investment entering the country has grown significantly in recent years.

According to the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), Tanzania registered 915 investment projects valued at 10.95 billion US dollars in 2025, up from 252 projects worth 3.7 billion US dollars in 2021.

The authority’s investment framework is designed to make it easier for local and foreign investors to establish and expand businesses, with TISEZA serving as the central institution for investment promotion and facilitation.

TISEZA operates as a One-Stop Facilitation Centre, bringing together government institutions responsible for immigration, labour, taxation, land, standards, business registration, environmental management and occupational safety, allowing investors to access several approvals, permits in one place.

Beyond capital inflows, the investment drive is strengthening Tanzania’s economic relationships with international partners, particularly India, a major trading and investment partner.

The two countries’ relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2023, while Indian companies continue to invest across manufacturing, telecommunications, infrastructure, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and other sectors.

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This growing relationship was recently reflected in the launch of Divine Serenity, a modern residential development in Masaki, Dar es Salaam, at a time when Tanzania-India economic ties are increasingly being translated into tangible projects, businesses and opportunities for Tanzanians.

Divine Serenity is a premium residential development located on Haile Selassie Road in Masaki, Dar es Salaam, part of Indiabased Nav Durga Group. The development represents an investment of more than 30 million US dollars and comprises 136 premium residences.

Speaking at the official launch, the Guest of Honour, Head of Political, Press and Information at the High Commission of India, Mr Lakshay Anand, said the project was an important addition to Masaki and Tanzania’s expanding real estate sector, as demand for modern housing increases.

Mr Anand, who said he had lived in Masaki for almost two years, noted that few residential developments in the area offered such a broad combination of amenities, describing Divine Serenity as a development that could raise the standard of residential living.

“Developments such as Divine Serenity demonstrate how private-sector investment can contribute to urban development while creating new opportunities for businesses, professionals and homeowners,” he said.

Tanzania’s investment framework also encourages reinvestment and expansion. TISEZA reported that nine expansion and rehabilitation projects registered during January-March 2025 were expected to generate 1,542 jobs and attract more than 100 million US dollars in investment.

Against this background, Divine Serenity represents more than another residential building. It reflects the growing role of private capital in responding to the housing needs of a city where population growth and economic activity continue to create demand for modern accommodation.

The development comprises 36 residences and covers approximately 29,200 square metres, according to the developers. It is planned with amenities including a rooftop facility, restaurant, wellness area, sauna, gym, children’s play area and family gathering spaces.

Managing Director of Divine Steels Limited, Mr Shivanshu Chhawchharia, said the company’s presence in Tanzania was part of a long-term commitment to the country, built on a reputation earned through decades of investment and delivery.

“Every great project begins with a vision, and ours was simple: To build more than just a building. A home is not just walls and a roof. A home is where families grow, children make their fondest memories and where every morning begins,” he said.

Mr Chhawchharia said the company was committed to Tanzania and stood by Tanzania Development Vision 2050. “We hope to play our part through co-developments and manufacturing. We have done this before, and we intend to do it properly here,” he added.

Speaking at the launch, the project’s representative, Mr James Prevost, Regional Owner of RE/MAX Tanzania, said location was among the most important considerations when assessing residential property.

He said the project’s proximity to restaurants, cafés, supermarkets, offices, entertainment facilities, international schools, embassies, pharmacies and healthcare facilities would provide convenience to residents while supporting the property’s long-term attractiveness to investors.

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The developers announced the same price for available units regardless of floor, while payments would be made through nine construction milestones spread across 36 months instead of conventional monthly payments. For joint-venture partner Mr Victor Mgawe, the project carries a personal meaning because his family had occupied the land since 1994, making the site part of their lives for more than three decades.

“For us, Divine Serenity is more than just a development,” he said, describing the project as a transformation of a place important to his family into a development that could create value, comfort and memories for future generations. The investment story behind the development also extends beyond Tanzania’s domestic economy to its international partnerships with India.

According to the High Commission of India, India is currently Tanzania’s second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching 9.02 billion US dollars in 2025-26. The relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2023 following President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s State Visit to India, strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, development, defence, education and other areas.

The launch also brought a regional dimension, with Senior Political and Economic Officer at the South African High Commission, Mr Ndumiso Mngadi, encouraging Tanzanian developers to consider South African manufacturers as suppliers of building materials, fittings and finishes.

He said stronger links between suppliers and developers could strengthen regional supply chains, increase trade between African countries and promote products manufactured within the continent. For young Tanzanians, growth in construction, manufacturing, real estate services and related industries can provide opportunities to gain technical and professional experience and support livelihoods.

As Dar es Salaam continues to expand, developments such as Divine Serenity form part of a wider urban transformation in which investment, housing, infrastructure, employment and international business relationships increasingly intersect.

For Tanzania, the challenge is to ensure investment creates lasting value through better housing, stronger local businesses, skilled employment, technology transfer and deeper regional and international economic partnerships that support inclusive and sustainable national growth over time.