The Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) has registered 3,538 investment projects worth $68.6 billion over the past five years, from 2021 to 2026. These projects are expected to create over one million jobs, according to TISEZA's Director General, Gilead Teri. Teri presented the figures at a meeting with editors in Dar es Salaam on November 2, 2026.
The manufacturing sector has the largest number of projects, with 1,061 projects, accounting for 30% of the total registered projects. The transport sector follows with 525 projects, while tourism has 335 projects, agriculture has 308 projects, and commercial buildings have 301 projects. These projects involve local investors, foreign investors, and joint ventures between the two groups.
China leads foreign capital investments with $14.1 billion, followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with $5.039 billion. Mauritius ranks third with $2.1 billion, ahead of the United Kingdom with $1.6 billion and India with $1.5 billion. These figures demonstrate the country's attractiveness to foreign investors.
For 2027, TISEZA aims to enable small producers to reach international markets, develop the country's special economic zones, and strengthen its registration systems to make investment activity easier. The authority was launched on July 1, 2025, under the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Act No. 6 of 2025.
The law requires all investors to register with TISEZA before starting operations in Tanzania, whether or not they apply for fiscal incentives. TISEZA was formed by merging the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC), established in 1997, with the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), established in 2002. President Samia Suluhu Hassan appointed Teri as the first Director General of TISEZA on the same day the authority was launched.
In its latest Quarterly Investment Bulletin, TISEZA reported 243 projects worth $1.88 billion registered between April and June 2026 under its general investment scheme. This demonstrates the country's continued attractiveness to investors. The authority has made significant progress in promoting investment in Tanzania.
In September 2026, TISEZA was named the Best Investment Promotion Agency in the Africa Region at the AIM Investment Awards held during the AIM Congress 2026 in Dubai. This recognition highlights TISEZA's efforts to promote Tanzania as an investment destination. The authority's work will continue to play a crucial role in driving economic growth in the country.
Key points
- TISEZA registered 3,538 investment projects worth $68.6 billion from 2021 to 2026.
- China leads foreign capital investments with $14.1 billion.
- TISEZA aims to enable small producers to reach international markets and develop special economic zones in 2027.
