DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has identified key investment opportunities in ports and logistics, agribusiness, fisheries, mining and tourism, urging Namibian investors to tap into the sectors to boost trade and investment between the two countries.
Speaking yesterday at the Tanzania-Namibia Business Forum in Dar es Salaam, held as part of Namibian President Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s State visit, President Samia said many high-growth sectors remain underexploited while, if fully exploited, they could offer significant opportunities for partnerships between investors from both countries.
She highlighted ports and logistics as one of the strategic areas for investment, citing the Dar es Salaam Port’s role as a gateway to Eastern, Central and Southern Africa.
According to her, improved logistics infrastructure provides opportunities for investors to expand transport services and access to the regional market of more than 500 million people. “Strategically, Tanzania is positioned as the gateway to Eastern, Central and Southern Africa and in that case, we welcome Namibian business communities to explore existing business opportunities that are guarantee a vast market. Welcome to Tanzania,” President Samia said.
She also invited Namibian investors to explore opportunities in the maritime sector.
On agriculture, President Samia said Tanzania’s vast arable land offers opportunities for large-scale agricultural investment, particularly in food production for export markets, including Namibia.
She noted that while Namibia remains a net importer of food, Tanzania has achieved surplus food production, creating room for mutually beneficial trade and investment partnerships.
“Tanzania can export products such as rice and maize to Namibia,” she said. Regarding fisheries and livestock, President Samia said Tanzania possesses abundant resources that can support stronger bilateral cooperation.
She noted that Tanzania ranks second in Africa in livestock population after Ethiopia, presenting significant opportunities for investment and value addition.
The President also encouraged collaboration in mining as well as oil and gas exploration, noting that both countries possess substantial mineral resources and energy potential.
Other sectors highlighted include renewable energy, particularly solar power, as well as tourism and hospitality.
To strengthen tourism ties, President Samia said Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) is planning to introduce direct flights to Namibia.
She further underscored the importance of Kiswahili as a unifying language that can facilitate people-to-people interactions and strengthen relations between the two nations.
President Samia said Tanzania is implementing reforms to attract investors as part of efforts to realise the goals of the upcoming National Development Vision 2050, which aims to build a one-trillion-dollar economy.
She added that the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) will continue improving the investment climate, noting that project registration now takes only 24 hours.
For her part, President Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed the importance of trade and investment cooperation as a pathway towards economic independence.
She said Africa’s economic transformation depends on countries trusting one another and working together to unlock shared opportunities.
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Describing Namibia as a trusted friend of Tanzania, President Nandi-Ndaitwah called on investors to translate the longstanding historical ties between the two countries into concrete economic partnerships.
“The success of this forum will be judged by the number of business deals signed. We want to see the outcome in industrialisation, manufacturing and job creation to take our people out of poverty,” she said.