The EU-Tanzania roadshow launched in Helsinki on 28 September 2026, signaling a major push to boost investments in Tanzania's critical minerals and digital economy. The European Union and Finland have pledged to support Tanzania with a new EUR 156 million package. This initiative is part of the EU-Tanzania Investment and Business Forum 2026-2027, aimed at turning potential into prosperity.
Finnish financiers Finnvera and Finnfund have expressed openness to Tanzanian deals, particularly in the mineral and digital sectors. Tanzania is offering European companies opportunities in graphite, nickel, and rare earths processing, as well as in data centers, submarine cables, and broadband. The Tanzanian government has allocated TZS 7 trillion for public spending in these areas. This presents a significant chance for European investors to tap into Tanzania's growing market.
The roadshow, which will also visit Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and The Hague, the Netherlands, aims to attract investments for 68 projects worth USD 30.1 billion. Of these, USD 29.1 billion remains available for investment. The Finnish leg, hosted at Pörssitalo in Helsinki, focuses on digitalization and critical raw materials. It is organized by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Finnish Institute of Public Management (HAUS), and Mining Finland.
The Political State Secretary of Finland, Pasi Rajala, highlighted the 60-year diplomatic relations between Finland and Tanzania, which have evolved into a broader partnership focusing on digitalization and minerals. Rajala noted that European companies are seeking reliable partnerships and resilient supply chains, with Tanzania well-positioned to play a central role. The EU's support for Tanzania's economic partnership was reiterated by Marc Stalmans, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Tanzania.
The European Commission approved a new EUR 156 million action package for Tanzania on 23 July 2026, aimed at establishing a renewed economic partnership. Stalmans emphasized that Europe requires critical minerals like graphite, nickel, and cobalt for strategic autonomy in battery production, which are abundant in Tanzania. The EU offers various financial instruments, including guarantees, blending mechanisms, grants, and loans, to support private investment in Tanzania.
The Deputy Minister of State in the President’s Office for Planning and Investment, Dr. Pius Stephen Chaya, presented Tanzania's Development Vision 2050 as the framework for private sector-led growth. He listed minerals, ICT, energy, agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, and tourism as priority sectors. Chaya encouraged investors to use various structures, including foreign direct investment, joint ventures, and public-private partnerships, to enter the Tanzanian market.
The Tanzanian government is promoting critical minerals as a step-by-step value chain, allowing European investors to enter through shared infrastructure, processing, and logistics. Specific projects, such as the Kabanga nickel project and the Epanko graphite mine, are seeking funding and offtake partners. The government has converted the former Barrick Buzwagi gold mine into a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) dedicated to mineral processing, offering incentives like a 10-year corporate tax exemption on exported processed minerals.
Key points
- The EU has pledged EUR 156 million to support Tanzania's critical minerals and digital economy projects.
- Tanzania offers opportunities for European investors in graphite, nickel, and rare earths processing, as well as in data centers and submarine cables.
- The EU-Tanzania roadshow will visit multiple locations in Europe, aiming to attract investments for 68 projects worth USD 30.1 billion.
