Tanzanian small and medium-sized investors have been linked directly to sources of financing, markets and investment incentives through a business forum held in the northern city of Arusha, as authorities intensify efforts to boost domestic investment and industrial growth.
The forum, organised by the Tanzania National Business Council (TNCC) in partnership with the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) and the East African Business Council (EABC), brought together local investors, lenders and trade bodies to address financing constraints and unlock new investment opportunities for Tanzanian-owned enterprises.
Officials said the initiative aims to strengthen participation of local investors in value addition and production, sectors seen as critical to job creation and economic resilience in East Africa’s second-largest economy.
TISEZA Director General Gilead Teri urged Tanzanian investors to formally register their projects to qualify for Investment Certificates, which he said provide legal protection and access to government-backed incentives.
These include exemptions from value-added tax and customs duties on imported machinery and production equipment, measures designed to lower entry and expansion costs.
“Certification enables investors to operate within a predictable legal framework while benefiting from fiscal incentives intended to stimulate productive investment,” Teri said.
Access to affordable capital remains one of the main obstacles facing local investors, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. Tanzania Investment Bank (TIB) said it is stepping up support through concessional financing targeted at industrial and commercial projects that add value to domestic products.
Joseph Felix Chilambo, TIB’s director of planning, said the state-owned lender is focused on ensuring that capital shortages do not prevent Tanzanians from investing in manufacturing and value chains that reduce reliance on raw exports.
“Our priority is to support projects that strengthen local production capacity and contribute to industrialisation,” Chilambo said.
TNCC President Vicent Minja said the chamber is working to connect Tanzanian businesses with both regional and international markets, noting that global linkages can help small investors access technology, improve efficiency and raise competitiveness.
“Through our networks, even a small investor can reach international partners and markets,” Minja said.
EABC Chief Executive Officer Iman Kajula said the forum addressed a common challenge among local investors — limited access to reliable investment information and networks. He said the platform enabled participants to engage directly with financiers, regulators and trade facilitators.
The Arusha meeting reflects broader government and private-sector efforts to position domestic investors at the centre of Tanzania’s industrialisation strategy, as the country seeks to expand manufacturing, increase exports of processed goods and deepen regional trade integration.