By Alfred Zacharia
Tanzania is moving to become a key hub for mining products and services in southern Africa, a strategy aimed at boosting local value addition, reducing import dependence, and positioning the country as a regional industrial leader.
Minister for Minerals Anthony Mavunde said the government is actively attracting investments in factories and services that support mining operations both domestically and regionally.
The announcement came during the inauguration of a warehouse for heavy machinery parts and mining equipment, jointly owned by Shan Parts Africa of India and ITR of Italy.
“Local availability of these parts will cut import costs, lower operational expenses, and increase efficiency in mining,” Mavunde said, highlighting the direct economic benefits of the initiative.
Sector's stakeholders view such investments as a turning point for Tanzania’s mining sector.
By establishing local supply chains for machinery and services, the country can stimulate industrial growth, transfer technology, create jobs, and enhance competitiveness in the regional market.
Mavunde noted that land in Buzwagi, Kahama, has been earmarked for factories that will add value and provide essential mining services.
“Our aim is to make Tanzania a distribution hub for mining products and services for both the country and neighbouring states,” he said.
The Ambassadors of India and Italy in Tanzania, Bishwadip Ney and Giuseppe Coppola, praised the trilateral partnership, underlining the importance of strategic international cooperation in advancing regional economic development.
Shan Parts Africa CEO, Malhar Dave, credited Tanzania’s conducive investment environment under President Samia Suluhu Hassan for enabling the company to operate locally.
He emphasized plans to supply high-quality parts meeting global technological standards, which will support modernization and growth in the mining sector.
The development marks a strategic shift in Tanzania’s approach to mining, from merely exporting raw materials to building a regional center for industrial services and value-added products.
The move could significantly strengthen Tanzania’s position in southern Africa, attract more foreign investment, and accelerate economic growth.