Tanzania has called on Turkish businesspeople and industrialists to invest in local manufacturing, seeking to expand industrial production and enable investors to tap into regional markets under the Southern African Development Community (SADC), East African Community (EAC) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade Dennis Londo made the call during a meeting with a delegation of Turkish businesspeople and factory owners visiting Tanzania to explore trade and investment opportunities.
Mr Londo said Tanzania wanted to attract more Turkish investment into manufacturing, arguing that establishing industries locally would help increase productivity while giving investors access to wider African markets.
He said the government had created a conducive environment for investors and urged the delegation to consider Tanzania as a destination for establishing production facilities rather than limiting their engagement to trade.
“This delegation is very important to our country because these businesspeople and factory owners contribute approximately 30 per cent of Turkey’s national income,” Mr Londo said.
The visit presents an opportunity for Tanzania to attract investment in manufacturing and strengthen commercial ties with Turkey, whose industrial businesses are exploring opportunities in the local market.
Investments in domestic production could support employment creation, technology transfer and the development of local supply chains, while helping Tanzania increase the value of goods produced within its borders.
Turkish businesspeople have expressed interest in investing in several manufacturing activities, including flour production, fish feed and animal feed, as well as establishing a commercial centre in Tanzania.
The delegation’s president, Abdullah Demir, said the group was ready to explore investment opportunities in those areas.
The proposed investments could open opportunities for collaboration between Turkish manufacturers and Tanzanian businesses, particularly in agro-processing and the production of inputs for the fisheries and livestock sectors.
However, the extent of the benefits will depend on whether the discussions translate into concrete investment commitments, operational factories and stronger participation by local businesses in manufacturing supply chains.
The delegation is also expected to meet business and investment stakeholders in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar to explore further areas of cooperation.
For Tanzania, attracting foreign manufacturers remains one avenue for expanding industrial capacity and increasing the contribution of manufacturing to economic activity. The government’s challenge will be to convert investor interest into projects that generate jobs, develop local skills and create products capable of competing in regional markets.