DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzanian government has reaffirmed its commitment to creating a predictable and investor-friendly business environment as it seeks to attract more Polish investment, with the private sector positioned at the centre of Tanzania’s economic transformation.
Permanent Secretary in the President’s Office (Planning and Investment), Fredy Msemwa made the remarks earlier on Wednesday when opening the Tanzania-Poland Business Forum in Dar es Salaam where he noted that the government is implementing reforms aimed at ensuring long-term policy stability, simplifying business regulations and expanding infrastructure to support trade and investment.
Held under the theme “Strengthening Poland-Tanzania Economic Partnerships for Sustainable Growth through Trade and Investment,” the forum brought together government officials and business leaders from both countries to explore investment opportunities and forge new commercial partnerships.
Additionally, the PS stated that the government is committed to maintaining consistent policies that will allow investors to plan with confidence over the long term.
“We are putting the private sector at the centre of building this economy. Our role as government is to continue strengthening policy credibility and consistency while creating a competitive and business-friendly environment,” he said.
Additionally, he noted that Tanzania is finalising a comprehensive review of its business environment to make the country one of the most competitive investment destinations globally.
According to him, ongoing reforms will simplify regulatory processes, improve public service delivery and reduce the cost of doing business.
Elaborating, the Permanent Secretary highlighted massive investments in strategic infrastructure, particularly in electricity generation, roads, railways and aviation, saying reliable infrastructure remains key to attracting both local and foreign investors.
He said the country currently has an electricity generation capacity of about 4,000 megawatts and plans to double it to 8,000 megawatts within the next five years as part of preparations to support a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2050.
“Tanzania is making long-term investments that will sustain industrialisation and economic growth for decades to come,” he noted.
Moreover, Mr Msemwa said economic indicators show significant progress over the past two decades, citing a sharp rise in private sector credit, banking assets and internet penetration as evidence of the country’s growing economy.
He said outstanding credit to the private sector has increased from about 800bn/- in the early 2000s to more than 42 trillion/-, while internet users have grown from about 100,000 to over 50 million.
Mr Msemwa said Polish investment in Tanzania currently stands at about 21.7m US dollars but expressed optimism that the figure would increase as more Polish companies explore opportunities in the country.
Furthermore, he identified manufacturing, agriculture, agro-processing, automotive industries, digital technology, transport and logistics, mining and value addition as among the sectors offering significant investment potential.
“This forum should not end with discussions alone. It should result in new investments, technology transfer, stronger business partnerships and job creation that will benefit our people,” he said.
Speaking earlier the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) Board of Chairman, Ambassador Aziz Mlima called on Polish investors to expand their footprint in Tanzania, saying the country’s strategic location, improving investment climate and special economic zones offer a gateway to the East African and wider African markets.
He said the strong turnout of the Polish business delegation at the forum reflects growing confidence in Tanzania’s economy and increasing interest in investment opportunities across various sectors.
“The presence of the Polish business community demonstrates the growing confidence in Tanzania as an attractive investment destination. We believe this forum will open a new chapter of stronger business partnerships between our two countries,” he said.
According to him, Polish companies are exploring opportunities in information and communication technology (ICT), energy, construction, tourism, mining, manufacturing, trade, transport and logistics, infrastructure as well as banking and financial services.
Elaborating, he said that Tanzania has already registered 11 Polish investment projects worth approximately 2.77m US dollars, creating 373 employment opportunities.
While describing the current investment portfolio as modest, he said it provides a strong foundation for expanding bilateral investment and commercial cooperation.
“We believe these figures are only the beginning. There is enormous potential for deeper collaboration in investment, technology transfer, industrial development and trade,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the government of Poland has invited Tanzanian businesses to tap into its advanced industrial technologies, manufacturing expertise and innovation capabilities to deepen trade and investment between the two countries.
Speaking at the Tanzania-Poland Business Forum, the Deputy Head of Mission, Minister-Counsellor and Head of the Consular and Polish Diaspora Unit at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Dar es Salaam, Katarzyna Sobiecka, said Poland has evolved into one of Europe’s fastest-growing economies and is ready to share its expertise with Tanzania.
Ms Sobiecka said Poland offers globally competitive solutions in industrial engineering, agriculture, food processing, automotive manufacturing, furniture production, information technology, artificial intelligence, fintech and renewable energy.
She noted that Polish companies are well-positioned to support Tanzania’s industrialisation agenda, food security, value addition, digital transformation and green economy through technology transfer, investment and knowledge sharing.
“The growing participation of Polish companies at the forum demonstrates increasing interest in Tanzania as an investment destination. This is a partnership built on trust, innovation and long-term cooperation that would unlock new business opportunities and strengthen economic ties between the two countries,” she stated.