TZ lures French transport giant

DAR ES SALAAM: FRENCH transport multinational Alstom has expressed interest in investing in rapid transit systems and modern urban transport infrastructure in Tanzania, targeting Dar es Salaam and other major cities as the government seeks to improve mobility and reduce traffic congestion.

The company’s Vice-President, Philippe Deller, expressed the interest during talks with Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba in France, where they discussed investment opportunities in Tanzania’s transport infrastructure sector.

Mr Deller said Alstom was ready to partner with the Tanzanian government in implementing strategic urban transport projects designed to improve mobility, support economic activity and enhance the efficiency of public transport systems.

The company is considering investments in rapid transit systems for Dar es Salaam while exploring similar opportunities in Mwanza, Mbeya and Arusha as urbanisation accelerates across the country.

The proposed investments are expected to reduce travel time, improve connectivity, strengthen business and investment activities and support economic growth through the adoption of modern transport technologies.

Dr Nchemba welcomed Alstom’s interest, saying the Sixth Phase Government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan had continued to implement reforms aimed at creating a favourable investment climate and positioning Tanzania as a regional hub for trade, transport and investment.

Alstom is one of the world’s leading transport technology companies, specialising in highspeed trains, metro systems, tramways, railway infrastructure, signalling and integrated transport management systems.

The discussions formed part of the government’s broader strategy to attract global companies with the technology, expertise and capital needed to accelerate infrastructure development and economic transformation.

Earlier on Monday, Dr Nchemba invited French investors to explore opportunities across strategic sectors, including mining, infrastructure, agriculture, digital technology and the blue economy, as Tanzania intensifies efforts to position itself among Africa’s leading investment destinations.

Speaking at the TanzaniaFrance Business Roundtable in Paris, the Prime Minister said Tanzania was seeking long term partnerships that would promote industrialisation, technology transfer, value addition and innovation while accelerating the country’s economic transformation.

“The next phase of our partnership must move beyond traditional trade of raw materials heading one side and finished products heading the other,” Dr Nchemba said.

“We are gathered here to commit our private sectors towards joint production, technology transfer, research collaboration and value addition. We should not simply exchange goods, but rather complement each other in the value chain of specific industries,” he added.

The Prime Minister said Tanzania and France had entered a new phase of economic cooperation anchored in investment, industrial development and shared economic ambitions.

He identified agriculture, infrastructure, mining, digital technologies and the blue economy as sectors offering substantial opportunities for French investors.

Dr Nchemba said agriculture remains the backbone of Tanzania’s economy, contributing 26.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), employing about 65 per cent of the workforce and accounting for 30 per cent of export earnings.

He said opportunities extend beyond primary production to agro-processing, food manufacturing, irrigation technologies, cold-chain logistics and agricultural mechanisation as the government seeks to increase domestic value addition.

“Our ambition extends well beyond primary production,” he said, adding that Tanzania aims to create greater value locally before products reach international markets.

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The Prime Minister also highlighted major investments in ports, railways, highways, airports and energy infrastructure, saying they are transforming Tanzania into a regional transport and logistics hub. He noted that French expertise in engineering, urban mobility, transport infrastructure and renewable energy aligns closely with Tanzania’s long-term development priorities.

He further invited French companies to invest in Tanzania’s mining industry, which has abundant reserves of gold, diamonds and tanzanite, alongside critical minerals such as graphite, lithium, uranium and rare earth elements.

“Our focus is no longer limited to extraction; it is directed towards beneficiation, refining, mineral processing and industrial manufacturing. We welcome partners who are prepared to invest across the entire value chain,” he said.

Dr Nchemba also cited opportunities in the blue economy, including port development, maritime transport, fisheries, aquaculture and marine services, as well as digital technologies, artificial intelligence, financial technology and innovation ecosystems.

“Tanzania offers precisely that opportunity. We are not inviting investors simply to enter a market of more than 70 million people. We are inviting you to establish a longterm partnership in one of Africa’s fastestgrowing and most strategically positioned economies,” he said.