Tanzania’s $20.2 Billion Investment Pipeline: 1,657 Projects and 87,696 Jobs Created

Invest in Tanzania is rapidly becoming one of Africa’s most compelling investment stories.

Tanzania, East Africa’s largest country and the seventh largest economy in Africa, is experiencing an unprecedented investment boom that is transforming its economic landscape at remarkable speed. Between 2021 and 2024, Tanzania registered over 1,657 investment projects valued at approximately $20.2 billion, creating around 87,696 direct jobs for Tanzanians.

In 2025 alone, TISEZA registered an additional 927 investment projects valued at $11.09 billion, creating nearly 163,000 jobs, continuing the record breaking momentum. When combined with 2025’s performance, total registered investment since 2021 exceeds $31.3 billion.

This article explores Tanzania’s investment transformation, what’s driving the boom, who’s investing, which sectors are hot and why investors from the United Kingdom, Oman, Kenya, Italy and the United States are betting big on East Africa’s rising star.

Tanzania’s Economic Transformation Under President Samia Suluhu Hassan

“Under Vision 2050, Tanzania aspires to build a modern, competitive and inclusive economy anchored on strategic investment, industrial transformation, innovation and strong public-private partnerships.”
– President Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania

When President Samia Suluhu Hassan took office, she embarked on an ambitious mission to transform Tanzania into a premier investment destination in Africa. The results speak for themselves:

Economic Indicator	2023	2024	2025 (Projected)
GDP Growth	7.4%	7.1%	7.3%
GDP (Nominal)	$69.5 billion	–	–
GDP per Capita	$1,241	–	–
Inflation	6.9%	5.1%	3.1%
Population	61.7 million (3.2% growth)	–	–

Source: Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), Bank of Tanzania, National Bureau of Statistics

The government’s proactive approach to facilitating investment has resulted in significant milestones. The newly established Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), formed by Act No. 6 of 2025, has consolidated the functions of the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) and the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), creating a one stop facilitation centre for investors that streamlines registration, licensing and aftercare services.

“The Government remains firmly committed to enhancing the business environment, strengthening investment facilitation and positioning Tanzania as a leading investment destination and strategic investment hub in Africa.”
– President Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania

Record Breaking Investment Registrations: 1,657 Projects Worth $20.2 Billion

The numbers tell a compelling story of Tanzania’s investment transformation:

Period	Projects Registered	Investment Value	Jobs Created
2021-2024	1,657 projects	$20.2 billion	87,696 direct jobs

Year	Projects	Investment Capital ($M)
2021	293	$4.5 billion
2022	256	$3.7 billion
2023	526	$9.3 billion
2024	582	$10.95 billion
2025	927	$11.09 billion

Source: Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA)

“Empirically, the government has gone to great lengths to formulate a policy environment that would be effective in attracting investment into the country by strengthening the private sector with the ultimate goal of realising sustainable economic development.”
– ZIPA Investment Magazine, Issue No. 1, June-December 2025

TISEZA: Your Gateway to Simplified Investment

The Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) is the government’s lead agency for promoting, facilitating and supporting investments. Through its One Stop Facilitation Centre (OSFC) , TISEZA provides end-to-end services including:

• Investor registration and licensing
• Aftercare services
• Special Economic Zone (SEZ) designation and management
• Land bank development for investment

“TISEZA is responsible for coordinating, promoting and facilitating investments in Tanzania Mainland, streamlining investment facilitation under the One Stop Facilitation Centre to simplify registration of investors, licensing, aftercare services, providing for designation, development, management and operations of special economic zones, as well as developing a land bank for investment.”
– TISEZA Investment Overview

Top 10 Investors Driving Tanzania’s Growth

Global investors from 10 countries are leading the charge into Tanzania’s investment landscape:

Rank	Country	Investment Value	Key Sectors
1	United Kingdom	$1.7 billion	Tourism, Real Estate, Energy
2	Oman	$1.2 billion	Tourism, Infrastructure
3	Kenya	$1.14 billion	Manufacturing, Trade, Real Estate
4	Italy	$1.11 billion	Tourism, Hospitality
5	United States	$1.1 billion	Real Estate, Technology
6	United Arab Emirates	$795 million	Tourism, Real Estate, Hospitality
7	Germany	$586 million	Tourism, Manufacturing
8	Luxembourg	$270 million	Finance, Investment
9	China	$245 million	Infrastructure, Manufacturing
10	South Africa	$224 million	Tourism, Real Estate

Source: Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA)

Global Recognition and Investment Awards

Tanzania’s commitment to investment excellence has earned international recognition:

Award	Year	Significance
WAIPA Special LDC Award	2024	Use of ICT in Supporting Investments
AIM Investment Awards	2024	Best Investment Promotion Agency in African Region
WAIPA Investment Excellence	2025	Special LDC Award

“These prestigious awards reflect our unwavering commitment to creating a world class investment environment, driving economic transformation and delivering value for investors.”
– TISEZA

Vision 2050: A Bold, Future Ready Investment Framework

Tanzania has set an ambitious Vision 2050 agenda to transform into a USD 1 Trillion Economy with GDP per capita of USD 7,000 by 2050.

Phase	Period	Focus	GDP per Capita
Baseline	2024	Lower Middle Income	$1,250
Phase 1	2025-2030	Average GDP Growth: 8-10%	$2,500
Phase 2	2030-2040	Industrial and Export led Growth	$4,000
Phase 3	2040-2050	Innovation, Technology and High Value Economy	$7,000+

Source: TISEZA Investment Overview

Key Pillars of Vision 2050:

• Development of globally competitive industries
• Expansion of manufacturing and value addition
• Modernization of agriculture and agro-processing
• Investment in energy, transport and logistics infrastructure
• Digital economy and innovation ecosystems
• Human capital development and skills transformation
• Strengthening regional and international trade integration
• Promotion of private sector investment and Special Economic Zones (SEZs)

Special Economic Zones: Bagamoyo, Kwala, Nala and Buzwagi

Tanzania has established four flagship Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to attract investment and drive economic growth:

1. Bagamoyo Eco Maritime City (BEMC), Phase I Industrial Park

Attribute	Value
Size	151 hectares
Location	Zinga, Bagamoyo
Distance from Dar es Salaam Port	45 km
Available Plots	134 demarcated plots
Ideal Sectors	Light manufacturing, heavy manufacturing, agro-processing, logistics, energy

Key Advantages:

• Direct access via fully paved Bagamoyo highway
• Adjacent to upcoming Bagamoyo Mega Port
• Near proposed railway corridor linking Bagamoyo Port to Central Railway Line (SGR and MGR) and TAZARA
• Close proximity to planned power substation and gas distribution station

2. Kwala SEZ, Kibaha, Coastal Region

Attribute	Value
Size	100 hectares
Location	Kibaha, Coastal Region
Connectivity	SGR, MGR, Tanzam Highway
Ideal Sectors	Agriculture value addition, FMCG, textiles, pharmaceuticals, automotive, packaging, electronics

Key Advantages:

• Adjacent to Kwala Dry Port
• Direct rail links to Dar es Salaam Port
• Serves landlocked neighbors (Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Zambia, Malawi)

3. Nala SEZ, Dodoma Region

Attribute	Value
Size	607 hectares
Location	Dodoma Region
Connectivity	Under 10 km from SGR, Dodoma-Singida Highway
Ideal Sectors	Manufacturing, agriculture value addition, FMCG, textiles, pharmaceuticals, automotive

Key Advantages:

• Tanzania’s Capital City location
• Proximity to government institutions (fast-track approvals)
• Access to University of Dodoma (UDOM), one of East Africa’s largest universities
• Benjamin Mkapa Hospital and Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital nearby

4. Buzwagi SEZ, Shinyanga Region

Attribute	Value
Size	1,333 hectares
Location	Kahama District, Shinyanga Region
Former Use	Buzwagi Gold Mine
Ideal Sectors	Mineral value addition, agro-processing, livestock processing

Key Advantages:

• Tanzania’s first Mining Hub SEZ
• Existing infrastructure: 60 MW substation, 3 million liters water reserve, 17 km security fence, airport with 1.5 km runway
• Strategic trade corridor linking Tanzania with DRC, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda

“These zones offer a host of incentives, including tax exemptions, simplified regulatory procedures and access to excellent infrastructure.”
– TISEZA Investment Overview

Transformative Projects: SGR, Julius Nyerere Dam, LNG and EACOP

Tanzania’s infrastructure transformation is creating massive opportunities for investors:

Project	Investment	Status	Impact
Standard Gauge Railway (SGR)	Major	Ongoing	Connecting key economic centers and ports
Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project	2,115 MW	Operational	Africa’s largest hydropower project
Bagamoyo Eco Maritime City (BEMC)	151 ha Phase I	Available	Industrial park, logistics hub
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)	Major	In Development	Unlocking Tanzania’s vast gas resources
East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP)	Major	Ongoing	Connecting Uganda’s oil to global markets

“These projects reflect Tanzania’s commitment to sustainable development, industrialization and shared prosperity for all.”
– TISEZA

Why Invest in Tanzania Now?

Strategic Location

Tanzania is bordered by 8 countries, 6 of which are landlocked (Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Zambia, Malawi) and rely on Tanzania as the most efficient passage for goods.

Connectivity Highlights:

• 1,424 km coastline along the Indian Ocean
• 3 International Airports (Julius Nyerere, Kilimanjaro, Abeid Amani Karume)
• 3 Deep Sea Ports (Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Mtwara)
• 3 Rail Lines (SGR, MGR, TAZARA)
• 1,424 km Coastline

Economic and Political Stability

Factor	Assessment
Political Stability	Multiparty democracy, peaceful transitions, Global Peace Index: 5th in Africa (58th globally)
Economic Growth	7.1% average GDP growth over past decade
Investment Protection	BITs, BTAs, MIGA, ICSID membership
Market Access	EAC (288M), SADC (327M), AfCFTA, AGOA, EBA

Access to Affordable Labour

Metric	Value
Population	61.7 million (3.2% growth)
Young Workforce	Over 60% under 25
Literacy Rate	Over 80%
Urban Population	35% (21.6 million), projected 59% by 2050

“With a literacy rate of over 80%, Tanzania offers a dynamic, trainable and industrious labour force to support sustainable business growth.”
– TISEZA

Investment Categories and Incentives

Investment Categories

Category	Foreign Investment	Local Investment
Normal Investors	USD 500,000	USD 50,000
Strategic Investors (SEZ)	USD 500,000	USD 100,000
Strategic Investors (General)	USD 50,000,000	USD 20,000,000

Fiscal Incentives

Incentive	Benefit
Zero Import Duty	On capital goods and raw materials
Corporate Tax Exemption	Up to 10 years (SEZ/EPZ)
Capital Allowance	Agriculture (100%), Hotels (50%), Fish Farming (50%)
Manufacturing Incentives	Reduced corporate tax to 10-20% for first 5 years
VAT Exemption	On utilities, services and wharfage charges (SEZ/EPZ)

Non-Fiscal Incentives

Incentive	Benefit
Automatic Immigration Quota	Initially 10 expatriates during implementation
Free Repatriation	Unconditional transfer of funds
Land Derivative Right	98 years security of tenure
International Arbitration	MIGA and ICSID membership
One Stop Facilitation Centre	All licenses and permits hassle-free

“Investors are guaranteed Unconditional Transfer of Net Profits, Dividends attributed to Investment, Repayment of foreign Loan, Payment of Personal Emoluments, Capital, Royalties and Fee charges in respect of imported Foreign Technology.”
– TISEZA

Priority Sectors for High Impact and Growth

1. Agriculture and Agro-Processing

Metric	Value
GDP Contribution (2024)	27%
Employment	65% of total workforce
Export Revenue	30% of Tanzania’s exports
Arable Land	44 million hectares

2. Manufacturing

Metric	Value
Annual Growth (2024)	8%
GDP Contribution	8.1%
Foreign Exchange Contribution	18.1%

3. Tourism

Metric	Value
Export Earnings	25%
GDP Contribution	17%
Direct and Indirect Jobs	1.7 million

4. Mining

Metric	Value
GDP Contribution (2024)	8.1%
Mineral Exports (2024)	USD 3.2 billion
Direct and Indirect Jobs	~500,000
Rank	3rd largest gold producer in Africa

5. Blue Economy

Metric	Value
GDP Contribution	~2.9%
Export Earnings	USD 1.6 billion
Jobs	~450,000
Coastline	1,424 km
EEZ	242,000 km²

6. Livestock

Metric	Value
Rank	2nd largest livestock population in Africa
Sector Growth	5% p.a. for 7 consecutive years

How to Invest in Tanzania

Step 1: Identify Your Investment Sector

Tanzania welcomes investment opportunities across multiple sectors:

Sector	Key Opportunities
Agriculture and Agro-Processing	Edible oil, fruits and vegetables, tea, cashew nut, floriculture, pulses, cassava, sugar, cotton, beverages
Tourism	Tourist hotels, beach tourism, cultural and historical sites, golf courses, eco-tourism, conference facilities
Manufacturing	Textiles, pharmaceuticals, automotive assembly, paper products, rubber products, electronics
Mining	Gold, diamonds, tanzanite, graphite, lithium, uranium, rare earth elements
Real Estate	Affordable housing, satellite cities, commercial real estate
Energy	Solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, natural gas, LNG
Blue Economy	Fisheries, aquaculture, marine transport, coastal tourism
Infrastructure	Roads, railways, ports, airports, logistics parks

Step 2: Contact TISEZA

TISEZA serves as the one stop shop for investors, providing:

• Investment promotion and facilitation
• Project approval and processing
• Incentive identification and implementation
• Institutional support for economic development
• Access to SEZ land and industrial parks

“The Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) is dedicated to facilitating and guiding all international investment endeavors in Tanzania.”
– TISEZA

Contact:

• Website: www.tiseza.go.tz
• Email: info@tiseza.go.tz
• Location: Golden Jubilee Tower, 1st Floor, Ohio Street, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Step 3: Leverage the Special Economic Zones

Tanzania’s SEZs offer attractive incentives for qualifying investors:

SEZ	Size	Focus
Bagamoyo (BEMC)	151 ha	Manufacturing, logistics, agro-processing
Kwala	100 ha	Manufacturing, textiles, pharmaceuticals, automotive
Nala	607 ha	Manufacturing, agriculture value addition, FMCG
Buzwagi	1,333 ha	Mineral value addition, agro-processing, livestock

Step 4: Explore PPP Opportunities

The PPP Centre manages a pipeline of 113 PPP projects across key sectors:

Stage	Number of Projects
Implementation Stage	8 projects
Negotiation Stage	3 projects
Procurement Stage	3 projects
Feasibility Study Stage	21 projects
Pre-Feasibility Study Stage	36 projects
Concept Note Stage	42 projects

“A total of 113 PPP projects are at various stages of development in Tanzania (mainland). The majority (68.1%) are at early stages (Concept Note and Pre-Feasibility).”
– PPP Centre

Key Multinational Companies with Subsidiaries in Tanzania

Global investors already operating in Tanzania include:

Sector	Companies
Energy and Natural Resources	Taifa Gas, Bakhresa Group, TotalEnergies, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Equinor, Shell
Automotive and Manufacturing	CFAO, Iveco, Bosch, ABB, Scania, Toyota, Tata, Siemens, Alstom
Financial Services	Citibank, Standard Chartered, Equity, KCB, CRDB, NMB, Absa
Telecommunications	Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo, ZTE, Huawei, Nokia, Microsoft
Transport and Logistics	DP World, Maersk, Bolloré, DHL, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, KLM
Consumer Goods	Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Unilever, Dangote, Wilmar, Nestlé, Mars, Heineken
Hospitality	Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Radisson, Accor, Movenpick, Serena

“Tanzania’s attractive investment climate, strategic location, abundant resources and strong policy support continue to draw global investors across multiple sectors.”
– TISEZA

Source Documents

• TISEZA Investment Overview 
• ZIPA Investment Magazine Issue No. 1 
• TISEZA, Africa’s New Manufacturing Hub 
• PPP Centre, PPP Pipeline 
• Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development
• TIC, Private Sector Project Brief

Credits and Data Sources

Source	Organization	Website
Investment Data	Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA)	www.tiseza.go.tz
Zanzibar Investment Data	Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA)	www.zipa.go.tz
Economic Data	Bank of Tanzania	www.bot.go.tz
Tourism Data	Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism	www.maliasili.go.tz
Housing Data	Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development	–
NHC Data	National Housing Corporation (NHC)	–
TBA Data	Tanzania Buildings Agency (TBA)	–
PPP Data	PPP Centre, Tanzania	www.pppcentre.go.tz
TIC Data	Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC)	www.tic.go.tz

Magazine Credits (ZIPA Magazine Issue No. 1):

• Publisher: Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA)
• Editor in Chief: Ali Sultan
• Consulting Editor: Mahbe Matinyi
• Project Coordinators: Salum Ramadhan (Habari Maelezo Zanzibar)
• Writers: Ali Sultan, Salum Ramadhan, Mahbe Matinyi, Abdulrahman
• Art Director: Keya Antony
• Photographer: Abdulrahman
• Consulting Agency: Zenji Digital Arts

TISEZA Credits:

• Presentation: TISEZA Investment Overview, 2025

Disclaimer

All investment figures, projections and targets presented in this article are based on official government sources including TISEZA, the Bank of Tanzania and the National Bureau of Statistics. These figures are subject to change based on market conditions, government policy and other external factors. Investment returns are not guaranteed and depend on market conditions, regulatory changes and project execution. Potential investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals before making any investment decisions.

Data Notes:

• The $20.2 billion figure represents investment value for the period 2021-2024.
• 2025 figures ($11.09 billion, 927 projects) are based on TISEZA quarterly reports.
• Projections for 2030, 2040 and 2050 are based on current government targets and may be subject to change.
• All USD conversions are approximate and based on exchange rates at the time of publication.

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Invest Today. Build Tomorrow. Together for a Prosperous Tanzania.
GCATRED, Global Chamber on African Trade, Rights and Economic Development.