The Government has stepped up efforts to position Zanzibar as a competitive investment hub, with the Minister for Labour and Investment, Shariff Ali Shariff, calling on Tanzanians, business leaders and development partners to take part in the Zanzibar Investment Festival 2026 scheduled for June 3–5.
Speaking to journalists at the Serena Hotel Dar es Salaam, the minister said the second edition of the festival will provide a strategic platform to attract capital, deepen partnerships and accelerate economic growth for both Zanzibar and Mainland Tanzania.
He said the three-day event, to be held at the Golden Tulip Airport Zanzibar, is expected to draw more than 500 participants, including international investors, policymakers, leading business executives and development stakeholders.
The festival will spotlight high-potential sectors such as the blue economy, healthcare, aviation, manufacturing, maritime transport and high-end tourism areas the government believes can unlock new growth frontiers and generate employment.
Mr Shariff said Zanzibar’s improving business climate, strategic location and ongoing infrastructure development continue to make it an attractive destination for investors seeking opportunities in East Africa.
The Executive Director of the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA), Saleh Saad Mohammed, said the previous edition of the festival delivered tangible outcomes, including the signing of several investment deals and a rise in registered projects.
“These results reflect increasing investor confidence and the effectiveness of our continued reforms to improve the ease of doing business,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), Gilead Teri, noted that collaboration between Mainland and Zanzibar investment institutions has strengthened, creating a more coordinated approach to attracting and facilitating investment.
He emphasised the need to expand participation of local investors to ensure broader economic benefits and inclusive growth.
The upcoming festival is expected to build on past gains by fostering dialogue, showcasing bankable projects and connecting investors with key decision-makers, as Tanzania seeks to scale up investment inflows and industrial development.
