Tanzania, Japan strengthen investment ties
DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA and Japan are entering a new era of investment collaboration, with calls for local businesses to partner with Japanese companies to tap opportunities and integrate into global value chains.
The initiative aims to attract investors from both countries, promote economic development and strengthen economic diplomacy.
Speaking yesterday during the Tanzania-Japan Roundtable programme in Dar es Salaam, the Director General of the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), Gilead Teri, described the economic relationship between the two countries as “healthy” and stressed the need to go beyond trade.
“Our goal is for Tanzanians to be more proactive, not just exporting goods to Japan, but collaborating with Japanese companies to establish industries that bring longterm benefits,” Mr Teri said.
The roundtable sought to strengthen business and investment ties, with particular focus on building the capacity of Tanzanian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and women-led businesses. It also promoted Tanzania as an attractive investment destination.
The event marked the launch of a Tanzanian trade and investment guide, which stakeholders are encouraged to use to explore opportunities in the country.
Mr Teri said that Japanese investment in Tanzania is significant, estimated at around 300 million US dollars (about 772bn/-) spanning sectors including machinery (automotive and industrial equipment), fisheries, agriculture (especially value added coffee and fruits), education, infrastructure, and construction.
He reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to working closely with Japan and other relevant institutions to unlock investment potential and foster shared prosperity.
He pointed to Tanzania’s strategic location, modern infrastructure, and access to regional markets within the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as key competitive advantages.
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Tanzania’s investment priorities are guided by Vision 2050, focusing on industrialisation, infrastructure, innovation, human capital development, and poverty reduction through private sector-led growth and technology transfer.
Mr Teri encouraged local businesses to collaborate with Japanese companies to seize opportunities across Africa, with support from Japanese representatives at Tanzania’s one-stop investment facilitation centre.
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) Resident Representative in Tanzania, Shigeki Komatsubara, highlighted UNCDF’s role in promoting investment, including highlevel missions to Japan and support for 14 investment ready projects worth 2.5 billion (about 6.5tri/-) aimed at boosting trade, investment, and industrial growth.
He stressed UNCDF’s commitment to strengthening Africa’s economic partnerships with the world, particularly under the TICAD framework, noting Japan’s expertise in technology, innovation, manufacturing, and skills development as key contributions to Tanzania’s socio-economic transformation.
First Secretary and Head of Economic and Development Cooperation, Jin Hashimoto, representing the Japanese Ambassador to Tanzania, said Japan views Tanzania as a key African partner, reflected in ongoing high-level engagements.
He reaffirmed efforts to improve the business environment, attract investment, and promote regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
