Japanese investors and business representatives have visited the Bagamoyo Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to assess investment opportunities and the progress of infrastructure development in the strategic industrial area.
The delegation, led by Japan’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Mikami Yoichi, toured the zone as Tanzania seeks to attract more foreign investment by improving infrastructure and simplifying procedures for investors.
The visit was facilitated by the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), with the delegation visiting several sites within the Bagamoyo SEZ, including the Mbegani Port area.
Officials briefed the visitors on investment opportunities in the zone, development plans and measures being implemented to facilitate investors.
Bagamoyo SEZ Director Felix John said the visit was intended to give potential investors an opportunity to assess developments on the ground rather than relying solely on information provided through formal investment channels.
“We had an opportunity to take them to the field to see how development is progressing in this area, but also to learn how easy it is to invest in Tanzania and the benefits available,” Mr John said.
He said the availability of land and infrastructure alone was not enough to attract investors, arguing that the ease with which businesses can navigate government procedures was also an important consideration.
“What attracts investors is not only land and infrastructure, but also an environment that can simplify the investor’s journey, from the first stage of obtaining information and investment procedures to accessing the various services required,” he said.
The visit also brought together Japanese businesspeople and representatives of companies, including some who travelled from Nairobi, Kenya, according to Ambassador Mikami.
The ambassador said the delegation received information on Tanzania’s plans for Free Trade Zones and Economic Zones, as well as regulations governing investment.
“We had an opportunity to receive explanations about the plans for the Free Trade Zone and Economic Zone, as well as regulations and plans related to investment,” Ambassador Mikami said.
The visit highlights growing efforts to position Bagamoyo as an investment and industrial hub, with the area’s location along Tanzania’s coast providing potential access to regional and international markets.
For prospective investors, however, the pace of infrastructure development and the effectiveness of investment facilitation will remain key factors in determining how quickly opportunities identified in the zone translate into actual projects.