Samia urges firms to seize Africa trade opportunities

DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has challenged the private sector to capitalise on expanding trade opportunities across Africa, saying Tanzania is steadily positioning itself as a regional production and logistics hub.

Speaking at a special public-private dialogue on the implementation of Tanzania Development Vision 2050 in Dar es Salaam, President Samia urged businesses to capitalise on the government’s investment in transport and trade infrastructure by expanding into regional markets.

She explained that the country’s ambition of becoming a leading production and transport hub was no longer a distant dream but a goal steadily taking shape through strategic investments in infrastructure and regional integration.

“We still have a lot to do, but we can already see the light ahead. The African Continental Free Trade Area will open up enormous opportunities to expand trade and attract investment,” she affirmed.

Drawing from her recent visits to Ghana and Angola, President Samia noted that Tanzanian products are already making inroads into African markets, creating fresh opportunities for exporters.

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“In Ghana, people were talking about Mbeya rice, while in Angola they spoke highly of Tanzanian products. The challenge now is ensuring those products reach those markets consistently, and that is where the private sector must step up,” she said.

She urged businesses to adopt innovative distribution and logistics strategies to penetrate neighbouring and regional markets, including destinations where transport links are still developing.

The President said the government is doing its part by improving regional connectivity through major infrastructure projects, including the rehabilitation of the Central Railway linking Tanzania with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and expanding rail connections towards Zambia and other neighbouring countries.

“We are improving connectivity, but if the private sector matches those efforts, Tanzania will move much faster in achieving its trade ambitions,” she said.

President Samia said closer collaboration between the government and the private sector would be essential to transforming Tanzania into a competitive manufacturing, logistics and trading hub envisioned under the Tanzania Development Vision 2050.