Tanzania is actively pivoting its bilateral economic relationship with Italy away from traditional trade and toward deep-value investment, industrial technology, and strategic knowledge transfer.
Speaking at the Tanzania–Europe Investment and Business Forum Roadshow in Cesena, Italy, Deputy Minister for Planning and Investment Dr. Pius Chaya stated that Tanzania aims to leverage Italian expertise to boost local manufacturing, agro-processing, digital transformation, and renewable energy deployment.
Moving Beyond Raw Material Trade to Local Value Addition
A core theme of the diplomatic engagement centered on transforming historical trade patterns, which have traditionally seen African raw materials exported for processing abroad. Tanzanian officials emphasized that the government is seeking partners who will establish production facilities directly within the country.
Key operational priorities highlighted during the roadshow include:
• Industrial Manufacturing & Value Addition: Attracting European capital and technology to build local processing plants for agricultural produce, minerals, and commercial cash crops before export.
• Agro-Processing & Technology Transfer: Integrating advanced Italian machinery and food processing technologies into Tanzania’s agricultural supply chains to reduce post-harvest losses and raise export values.
• Digital Transformation & Green Energy: Partnering with Italian firms to scale up renewable energy infrastructure and advance digital systems across the public and private sectors.
Connecting Investors to Regional Markets
The roadshow forms part of Tanzania’s broader strategy to connect domestic enterprises, infrastructure projects, and financial institutions with European capital, technical expertise, and export markets.
Dr. Chaya noted that foreign investors establishing operations in Tanzania stand to gain access to a rapidly expanding market, bolstered by the country’s strategic location as an EAC and SADC logistics gateway and its participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Italian roadshow also serves as a key preparatory step ahead of the main Tanzania–EU Investment and Business Forum, scheduled to take place in Dar es Salaam.
Source: thecitizen.co.tz
