Tanzania has stepped up efforts to attract European investment into critical minerals, calling on companies from the European Union to partner with local firms in exploration, processing, technology and other parts of the mining value chain.
The government made the pitch at the EU-Tanzania Investment and Business Forum in The Hague, where officials presented opportunities in mining, agriculture and the digital economy while assuring investors of continued efforts to improve the business environment.
Minister of State in the President’s Office for Planning and Investment, Prof Kitila Mkumbo, urged European businesses to move ahead with investment decisions, saying the government was ready to work with investors.
He said Tanzania was seeking investment that could translate its natural and economic potential into productive activity and stronger business ties with the EU.
The mining sector emerged as a key focus of the forum, particularly critical and strategic minerals that are increasingly important to global industries and the transition to cleaner energy.
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Minerals, Msafiri Mbibo, said Tanzania and the EU needed to move discussions about mineral opportunities into actual investment projects.
“Now is the time to move from discussions and opportunities to actual investment,” Mr Mbibo said, while inviting European companies to participate in geological exploration, resource assessment, technology development and responsible mineral production.
He said better geological information would be essential in attracting investment because reliable data enables companies to assess risks, identify deposits and make informed decisions on mine development.
Tanzania Geological Survey (GST) Executive Director Eng Ally Samaje said significant parts of the country remained insufficiently explored, creating opportunities for investors with the technology and capital required for advanced exploration.
He identified high-resolution airborne geophysical surveys, geological, geochemical and geophysical studies among the areas open for cooperation.
Other opportunities include strengthening mineral laboratories and developing systems for managing and sharing geoscientific information, he said.
The push for more exploration could help Tanzania establish a clearer picture of its mineral reserves while reducing one of the major risks facing investors at the early stages of mining projects.
Mining Commission Commissioner Dr Theresia Numbi said European companies could also invest through joint ventures with Tanzanian businesses.
She said opportunities extended beyond mining itself to mineral processing, machinery assembly and maintenance, engineering and professional services.
European investors could also contribute technology, capital and expertise in critical minerals, digitalisation, environmental management and renewable energy, Dr Numbi said.
The emphasis on processing and other supporting services reflects Tanzania’s broader push to increase value addition and participation in mining activities rather than relying mainly on the export of raw minerals.
Tanzania’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Caroline Chipeta, said the forum would help strengthen the country’s diplomatic, political and economic ties with the EU.
She singled out critical and strategic minerals as an important area for expanding trade and investment cooperation between Tanzania and European countries.
For Tanzania, the challenge will now be to convert the investment interest presented at the forum into projects that generate jobs, expand local supply chains, increase mineral value addition and bring technology into the country.
The forum comes as countries globally compete for secure supplies of critical minerals needed for batteries, renewable energy systems, electronics and other technologies, giving resource-rich economies an opportunity to attract new investment while strengthening their position in emerging global supply chains.