Tanzania is stepping up efforts to position itself as a regional pharmaceutical manufacturing hub, seeking Chinese investment to boost local production of medicines and pharmaceutical raw materials as part of a broader strategy to strengthen healthcare security and serve African markets.
Health Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa outlined the government's ambitions during talks on Tuesday with executives of China's Jointown Pharmaceutical Group, one of the country's largest privately owned pharmaceutical companies, as Tanzania seeks strategic partnerships to expand its pharmaceutical industry.
At the centre of the plan is the Mloganzila Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Special Economic Zone, which the government is developing as a dedicated industrial cluster for the production of medicines, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and medical devices.
Mr Mchengerwa said the zone has been equipped with modern infrastructure and strategically linked to the Port of Dar es Salaam and Julius Nyerere International Airport, offering investors efficient access to regional and international markets.
He invited Jointown to invest in the local production of pharmaceutical ingredients, saying the move would reduce Tanzania's reliance on imported inputs, improve the availability of essential medicines and enhance the country's capacity to supply neighbouring markets.
A proposed partnership between Jointown and the Medical Stores Department (MSD) is also expected to strengthen Tanzania's pharmaceutical supply chain by introducing advanced logistics systems and global expertise in medicine storage and distribution.
"The collaboration between Jointown and MSD is expected to transform the country's pharmaceutical supply, storage and distribution systems through modern technology and the company's extensive experience in global supply chain management," Mr Mchengerwa said.
He reiterated that the government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan remains committed to supporting investments that expand domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, describing the sector as critical to improving health security and advancing industrial development.
The minister said the government is prepared to allocate adequate land for pharmaceutical raw material production, signalling its determination to accelerate the establishment of modern manufacturing facilities capable of meeting domestic demand while supplying regional markets.
The investment push reflects Tanzania's long-term strategy to build a competitive pharmaceutical industry, reduce dependence on imported medicines and position the country as a manufacturing and distribution gateway for East Africa and the wider continent.
