Tanzania boosts horticulture investment after summit
DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA has unveiled an ambitious agenda to accelerate the growth of its horticulture industry following the successful conclusion of the maiden Horticulture Business and Investment Summit (HoBIS) in Dar es Salaam, recently.
The high-level forum, convened by Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, brought together government officials, investors, producers, financiers and regional partners committed to driving the subsector into a new phase of competitiveness and exportoriented expansion.
One of the significant outcomes, TAHA CEO, Dr Jacqueline Mkindi said, was the institutionalisation of HoBIS as an annual event to be held every 1st of August, coinciding with Farmers Day (Nane Nane).
The decision is expected to elevate the summit’s influence and turn it into a key marketplace for investment commitments, policy alignment and cross-sector collaboration.
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Delegates further endorsed Horti Logistica Africa as a recurring November event in Arusha, positioning Tanzania as the regional centre for horticulture logistics, technology deployment and supply chain innovation.
Beyond event positioning, the summit adopted a comprehensive strategy to package and promote bankable horticultural investment opportunities throughout the year.
Organisers noted that this ongoing effort will serve as a catalyst for attracting capital, strengthening value chains and enabling producers to capture higher-value markets.
The summit’s policy panel went further to emphasise the need for coordinated reforms, ranging from enhanced economic diplomacy and stronger PPP frameworks to expanded access to finance and modernised logistics, to unlock the industry’s full potential.
Trade and market access were also central to deliberations, with subsector leaders calling for urgent upgrades in cold chain systems, sorting and grading hubs and rural transport networks to reduce post-harvest losses and meet stringent export standards.
Delegates pushed for deeper regional integration within the EAC, particularly through harmonised certification regimes and unified trade policies that would facilitate cross-border flows of goods, investment and services. Improved infrastructure; ports, roads, inspection centres, was identified as a prerequisite for attracting foreign direct investment and expanding financial products tailored to horticulture.
“With the resolutions now in place, stakeholders expressed confidence that Tanzania is poised for a major leap in horticultural output, job creation and export earnings” Dr Mkindi said.
The momentum generated at HoBIS, they noted, marks the beginning of a new, business-driven growth trajectory for one of the country’s most promising agricultural subsectors.
“We gratefully acknowledge the government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), TradeMark Africa (TMA) and Azania Bank for the valued contributions towards this summit” she noted.
