The Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade) will host the Lake Tanganyika Business and Investment Forum on April 15–16, 2026 in Kigoma, bringing together investors, policymakers and business leaders to explore economic opportunities around Lake Tanganyika.
The two-day forum is expected to serve as a strategic platform to promote trade, investment and regional economic cooperation among countries sharing the lake, including Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi and Zambia.
According to TanTrade, the forum will showcase a range of investment opportunities in sectors such as fisheries, tourism, transport and logistics, agriculture and cross-border trade.
The event will also provide a platform for discussions on strengthening regional trade networks and unlocking the economic potential of the Lake Tanganyika corridor.
Lake Tanganyika, one of Africa’s largest freshwater lakes, plays a vital role in connecting regional markets and supporting economic activities across the Great Lakes region.
Its strategic position makes it an important gateway for trade and investment between Tanzania and its neighbouring countries.
The forum will also focus on improving infrastructure development, enhancing trade facilitation and encouraging partnerships between public and private sector stakeholders.
Participants are expected to engage in business-to-business meetings, panel discussions and investment promotion sessions.
Officials say hosting the forum in Kigoma highlights the region’s growing importance as a centre for trade, tourism and transport in western Tanzania.
The area serves as a key port linking inland regions of the country to markets across Lake Tanganyika.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts by TanTrade and the government to promote Tanzania as a competitive investment destination while strengthening regional economic integration.
Organisers say the forum will bring together government leaders, investors, development partners and entrepreneurs interested in exploring business opportunities in the Lake Tanganyika basin and contributing to the region’s economic growth.
