Tanzania has intensified efforts to attract investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing as part of a national strategy to reduce dependence on imported medicines and strengthen local production capacity, Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has said.
Speaking in Nairobi, Kenya, on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit, the Prime Minister held talks with the Chief Executive Officer of the Agence Française de Développement, Christophe Lecourtier, focusing on strengthening development cooperation and expanding investment opportunities in key sectors.
He said Tanzania is now placing strong emphasis on building local capacity to produce medicines and medical supplies, noting that the country currently spends a significant amount of foreign exchange on importing drugs.
“We import a large quantity of medicines from abroad, but now we have set priorities to see how we can invest in pharmaceutical industries so that we produce them here in our country,” said Prime Minister Nchemba.
He said the government is inviting development partners and private investors to take advantage of the growing opportunities in the health manufacturing sector, stressing that Tanzania offers access to both the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) markets.
“Through your office and other stakeholders, they can take advantage of this big opportunity to come and invest in this area. As you know, investing in Tanzania means entering a gateway to both EAC and SADC markets,” he said.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the government’s industrialisation agenda prioritises import substitution industries, especially in strategic sectors such as health, where reliance on imports has exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains.
He said Tanzania aims to develop a strong pharmaceutical industry that will produce essential medicines locally, create jobs for citizens, and improve access to affordable healthcare.
During his discussions with AFD, Mwigulu Nchemba commended the agency for its continued support in financing development projects in Tanzania, particularly in the water sector.
He highlighted the Second Phase of the Lake Victoria Water Project as a key national initiative expected to improve access to clean and safe water for millions of Tanzanians.
The Prime Minister assured development partners that Tanzania will continue to work closely with them in implementing priority development projects aimed at improving the lives of citizens.
“We reaffirm the commitment of the United Republic of Tanzania to continue working closely with AFD for the benefit of the development of our people,” he said.
On broader continental development discussions, he called on African countries and partners to align priorities in order to accelerate sustainable development across the continent.
He noted that Africa must move beyond long-standing discussions on capacity building and focus more on investing in infrastructure that directly supports economic transformation.
“We have spent a long time talking about building capacity instead of building infrastructure that will enable our continent and our countries to effectively implement their agendas,” he said.
On agriculture, Mwigulu Nchemba stressed the importance of value addition, technology transfer, and modern farming systems to increase productivity and income for farmers.
He said Africa should reduce the export of raw materials and instead focus on processing and adding value locally to create jobs and strengthen economies.
“We expect cooperation in technology transfer, including the development of modern agricultural tools, extension services, and digital systems. It is no longer time to export raw materials; our direction must be toward value addition,” he said.
He further emphasized the need to expand irrigation systems, improve agricultural extension services, and introduce modern mechanisation and digital technologies to support farmers.
The Prime Minister linked pharmaceutical development, agriculture transformation, and industrial growth to Tanzania’s broader development agenda under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, saying these sectors remain key in driving inclusive economic growth.
The Nairobi meeting brought together African leaders, development partners, and private sector actors to discuss strategies for strengthening Africa–France cooperation in areas such as industrialisation, innovation, and sustainable development.
Tanzania’s participation highlighted its continued focus on building a self-reliant economy through local production, regional integration, and value addition across key sectors.
