The South African High Commissioner to Tanzania, Mr Thami Mseleku said that Tanzania is booming with joint-venture opportunities in the sectors of roads, rail and port infrastructure development projects where South African companies can embark on partnerships with their Tanzanian counterparts. The High Commissioner was speaking at the South Africa – Tanzania business seminar that was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Thursday, 30 June.

Mseleku added that Tanzania stood at crossroads because of its 6-7% growth rate and it had the potential to grown if certain strategic decisions that are being taken are followed through.

“We must note that this is not only a growth point in itself but it is an entry point to the East African community here particularly because the country is strategically located in order to enable us to penetrate the markets of Rwanda, Burundi, DRC and Uganda that are landlocked and are dependent on Tanzania’s port resources. That is there reason why the Tanzanian government is focussing on the development of the Dar es Salaam port because it is not only of interest to Tanzania but to all the countries in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),” said Mseleku.

Speaking more on opportunities in Tanzania, Mseleku highlighted the recent discovery of gas both on-shore and off-shore.

“About two days ago there was an announcement on the discovery of helium. So you can see that the country is on the move in terms of its potential. So anyone in who is in that area of interest particularly in terms of industrialisation strategy is definitely on the right track. There is lots of talk about building local production particularly the textile and leather industries. So if you are looking at developing partnerships in those sectors particularly shoes related matters where are plenty of merging opportunities,” said Mseleku.

On mitigating challenges that awaited businesspeople that were looking in Tanzania on issues of land for purposes of acquiring office space or setting up manufacturing operations, Mseleku advised that they ensure that they follow through the right channels.

“It is very much important that you approach the High Commission, the Department of Trade and Industry or the Tanzanian Investment Centre on all interactions you engage upon. That way we would be able to assist you in determining the authenticity of the partners you are negotiating with,” said Mseleku.  

A representative from the Tanzanian Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Ambrose Brixio Lugenge said that the government of Tanzania would ensure that it supports any of the developments that result from the seminar.

“I want to encourage you to take full advantage of these interactions and make an undertaking with you that we will make sure we assist in any way possible to ensure that we create an enabling environment and that our laws make it conducive for you to partner with Tanzanian businesspeople,” said Brixio

Issued by Department of Trade and Industry