Tanzania banks on mineral value addition’s strong link with industrial sector to attain 1tri US dollar- economy

MKURANGA: TANZANIA’S mining sector continues to play a significant role in advancing the country’s Vision 2050 goal of building a 1 tri US dollar economy, driven by increased investment in mineral value addition and stronger linkages between mining and the industrial sector.

Deputy Minister for Minerals, Dr Steven Kiruswa, made the remarks during a visit to Mkuranga District in Pwani Region aimed at inspecting mining activities, identifying challenges facing stakeholders and issuing directives to strengthen the sector.

During the visit, Dr Kiruswa toured KEDA Tanzania Float Glass, a major manufacturing plant producing glass for various applications, including buildings and automobiles, as well as GoodWill Ceramic Co. Ltd, which manufactures floor and wall tiles as well as household, bathroom and sanitary products.

Dr Kiruswa said such investments demonstrate Tanzania’s capacity to use its mineral resources to manufacture high-value products capable of competing in international markets, including the United States.

He also stressed the importance of complying with government-set indicative prices for minerals used as industrial raw materials. He directed the Resident Mining Officer for Dar es Salaam and Pwani regions, in collaboration with the Mkuranga District authorities, to organise seminars for factory owners and mining licence holders on corporate social responsibility, environmental conservation and other key issues related to mining activities.

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Meanwhile, Mkuranga District Commissioner Hadija Nasri Ally said the government was continuing to create a conducive environment for investment, including setting aside 15 acres for the construction of an inland dry port.

She said the dry port is expected to facilitate the storage and transportation of goods produced in the district, thereby improving the efficiency of production and trade activities.

According to the District Commissioner, Mkuranga has 275 factories, of which 39 use minerals as raw materials to manufacture various products. Mining activities in the district contributed 3.2 billion Tanzanian shillings during the 2025/26 financial year.

KEDA Tanzania Business Manager Ruby Zhu said 98 per cent of the raw materials used by the factory are sourced from Mkuranga, highlighting the significant role of locally available resources in industrial production.

She said the factory produces approximately 600 tonnes of glass per day, which is exported to various international markets, including the United States.

GoodWill Business Manager Justin Xie said 90 per cent of the raw materials used by the factory are sourced from Tanzania.

He said the company has expanded its production portfolio to include household products such as sinks, bathroom and sanitary fittings, with its products being sold in various international markets, including Europe and the United States.

On employment, Xie said the factory has created approximately 3,000 direct jobs for Tanzanians and an estimated 12,000 indirect jobs.

“We have established our roots in Tanzania. We are committed to transforming locally available mineral resources into high-value products for export, creating more jobs and generating tax revenue. We will also work with all relevant departments to address bottlenecks in the mineral supply chain and jointly advance industrial development in Tanzania,” Xie said.

According to Dar es Salaam and Pwani Regional Mining Officer Engineer Lameck Gabote, Mkuranga is among the major producers of construction and industrial minerals, which largely serve the needs of Dar es Salaam and neighbouring regions.

The visit highlights the growing importance of strengthening linkages between the mining and manufacturing sectors to add value to locally produced resources, create employment, increase government revenue and expand Tanzania’s capacity to compete in international markets.