As Tanzania’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, I see a significant opportunity to deepen the economic partnership between our two countries and translate our longstanding friendship into tangible investment, trade and business opportunities.
At a time when global businesses are reassessing their supply chains and seeking resilient, sustainable and strategically located investment destinations, Tanzania is well positioned to become a preferred partner for Dutch companies looking to expand their presence in Africa.
Strategically located along the Indian Ocean, with a growing domestic market of more than 65 million people, abundant natural resources, expanding infrastructure and access to major regional markets, Tanzania offers far more than a destination for investment. It provides a gateway to the wider East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) markets, as well as opportunities for manufacturing, value addition, regional distribution and export-oriented production.
A Gateway to the EAC and African Markets
As a member of both regional blocs, Tanzania provides access to a combined regional market of more than 300 million consumers. Through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), businesses established in Tanzania can also position themselves to serve the wider African market of more than 1.3 billion people. This geographical advantage is reinforced by Tanzania’s position as a logistics gateway to land-linked countries including Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Tanzania’s development agenda presents an important opportunity to strengthen our economic partnership with Dutch businesses and investors. Guided by Tanzania Development Vision 2050 (Dira 2050) and the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP IV), Tanzania is pursuing a transition from an economy largely dependent on raw-material exports towards a modern, industrialised and export-oriented economy.
These priorities provide a strong foundation for deeper Tanzania–Netherlands cooperation, particularly in areas where Dutch expertise, technology and investment can support Tanzania’s ambitions while creating mutually beneficial commercial opportunities.
TISEZA and ZIPA: One-Stop Partners for Investors
In my engagements with Dutch businesses and prospective investors, I recognise that the decision to invest in a foreign market depends not only on the opportunities available, but also on the clarity of procedures, accessibility of information and reliability of institutional support.
For Dutch investors, Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) and Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA) provide important point of contacts to explore investment opportunities, understand the applicable requirements and connect with relevant public institutions.
As the Government’s lead institutions for investment promotion and facilitation on the mainland and Zanzibar, TISEZA and ZIPA plays a central role in developing Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Export Processing Zones (EPZs), supporting strategic investment projects and providing investor aftercare. They also coordinate with key government institutions involved in investment-related matters, helping investors navigate the relevant processes and access the support they need.
Through its One-Stop Facilitation Centre and the Tanzania Investment Electronic Window (TIEW), TISEZA assists investors in navigating investment procedures and accessing coordinated government support.
While The Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA) on its part plays a key role in promoting Zanzibar as an investment destination and facilitating investment in priority sectors.
Special Economic Zones: Building the Platform for Industrial Investment
A central component of Tanzania’s industrialisation strategy is the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Export Processing Zones (EPZs). They are designed to provide investment-ready environments for manufacturing, agro-processing, logistics and warehousing, export-oriented assembly, value addition and regional trade distribution. They can offer investors serviced industrial land, strategic locations along transport corridors, coordinated government support, streamlined procedures and fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.
High-Potential Sectors for Dutch Companies
Dutch companies undoubtedly possess considerable expertise, advanced technologies and innovative solutions that can play a significant role in unlocking the potential of Tanzania’s high-growth sectors and accelerating the country’s sustainable economic development.
– Agriculture and Agro-Processing
Tanzania offers significant opportunities in horticulture, greenhouse farming, irrigation, seed systems, agricultural inputs, cold-chain logistics, dairy, livestock and the processing of commodities such as cashew, cotton and coffee.
– Manufacturing and Value Addition
Tanzania is prioritising food and beverage processing, textiles and garments, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, light manufacturing, industrial assembly and packaging.
– Logistics and Maritime Development
Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coastline and its role as a gateway for land-linked countries create opportunities in ports, maritime logistics, dry ports, warehousing, distribution and cold-chain transport.
Among the transformative opportunities is the Bagamoyo Eco Maritime City (BEMC), which is envisaged as an integrated platform incorporating industrial parks, maritime and logistics services, warehousing, blue economy investments and smart urban development.
– Renewable Energy and Green Solutions
Tanzania’s industrial expansion is generating demand for renewable energy, energy-efficient industrial systems, sustainable water and wastewater management, waste-to-energy and circular-economy solutions.
– Critical Minerals and Mineral Beneficiation
Tanzania also possesses significant deposits of strategic minerals, including gold, graphite, nickel, cobalt and helium. The opportunity increasingly extends beyond extraction towards processing, beneficiation and integration into industrial supply chains, including those supporting battery and clean-energy industries.
A Partnership Already Delivering Results
The Tanzania–Netherlands economic partnership is not starting from zero. It is built on longstanding cooperation and the presence of Dutch companies in Tanzania across agriculture, , manufacturing, logistics, maritime services, energy and other sectors. Dutch companies such as BAM International, Philips, Heineken, KLM, Unilever, Ballast Nedam, East-West Seed, Rabobank, Rijk Zwaan, HZPC, Shell, Royal Van Oord, Co-Concept and Damen Shipyards, have long established presence or partnerships in Tanzania.
These partnerships demonstrate the value of our existing economic ties and reinforce my conviction that there is considerable scope to build on them.
The next phase of our cooperation should focus on moving beyond traditional commercial engagement towards deeper investment, technology transfer, value addition and joint industrial development, creating opportunities that benefit businesses and communities in both countries.
Why Tanzania, Why Now?
Tanzania is entering an important phase of economic transformation, presenting timely opportunities to deepen our economic partnership with the Netherlands.
The country is investing in infrastructure, strengthening its investment facilitation systems, expanding industrial capacity and positioning itself as a regional logistics and manufacturing hub.
I believe this convergence creates a timely opportunity for Tanzania and the Netherlands to deepen their economic partnership and translate shared interests into concrete investment opportunities. For Dutch companies, Tanzania offers:
• Access to the EAC and wider African markets
• A strategic Indian Ocean location
• Investment opportunities across high-growth sectors
• Special Economic Zones and export-oriented industrial platforms
• Opportunities for value addition and regional manufacturing
• A growing consumer market
• Expanding logistics and maritime infrastructure
• Institutional investment facilitation through TISEZA and ZIPA
• Opportunities to deploy Dutch technology, innovation and expertise
The ambition is therefore not to simply attract more investment, but to encourage productive investment that creates jobs, strengthens local value chains, transfers technology and connects Tanzania more deeply to regional and global markets.
New Chapter in Tanzania–Netherlands Economic Relations
Tanzania and the Netherlands share a longstanding relationship built on development cooperation, trade, investment and people-to-people connections. There is a great opportunity in build on this strong foundation and shape a more dynamic economic partnership.
I encourage Dutch businesses to look at Tanzania not only in terms of the opportunities available today, but also the long-term potential of building partnerships in a growing economy with regional reach.
As the Embassy, we are committed to helping Dutch businesses connect with the relevant institutions and explore partnerships that translate these opportunities into mutually beneficial and lasting economic cooperation.
Karibuni sana!
Written by the Ambassador of Tanzania, H.E. Caroline Chipeta