The government has intensified efforts to strengthen the investment environment in the pharmaceutical and medical supplies sector as Tanzania positions itself to become a major producer of health products in East Africa and across the continent.
Speaking during the foundation stone laying ceremony for the operationalisation of the pharmaceutical and medical supplies industrial cluster at Mloganzila in Dar es Salaam on Friday, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health responsible for Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies, Emmanuel Tayari, said the initiative forms part of broader government plans to attract strategic investment into the health sector.
He said Tanzania was creating a competitive environment for investors through improved infrastructure, supportive policies and closer integration between industry, research institutions and healthcare services.
“Mloganzila and Kibaha have been prioritised because of their proximity to major education, research and healthcare institutions, making it easier to access experts, technology and knowledge needed to drive the growth of this sector,” said Tayari.
The government, he added, deliberately selected the two areas as pilot investment zones to gain implementation experience and establish a model that can later be replicated in other regions, including Kilimanjaro, Mbeya and Mtwara.
In another major development, Tayari disclosed that the Ministry of Health had secured 100 acres of land in Bagamoyo through the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) for the establishment of a Bio-Industrial Park expected to attract large-scale investments in pharmaceuticals, vaccines and other health products.
He said Bagamoyo’s strategic location and availability of land place it in a strong position to become a long-term industrial hub for health and biotechnology industries.
“Bagamoyo has enormous potential to host large-scale industries because of the size of the area and the possibility of developing specialised infrastructure tailored for investors in pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors,” he said.
Tayari noted that the government had adopted a cluster-based industrial model aimed at reducing operational and investment costs related to infrastructure, energy, water, quality assurance systems, safety standards and licensing procedures.
“We want investors coming to Tanzania to find a ready environment with supporting infrastructure, effective regulatory institutions and a smooth system for implementing their projects,” he said.
He also commended TISEZA for supporting the initiative, emphasising that the development of the pharmaceutical and medical supplies industry is a national agenda requiring cooperation across multiple sectors.
The government believes the strategy will not only reduce dependence on imported medicines and medical products but also create jobs, strengthen technology transfer and increase Tanzania’s competitiveness in Africa’s growing healthcare manufacturing market.
