The government of Tanzania has identified six key areas to focus on in its five-year industrial development programme with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido). The programme, known as the Programme for Country Partnership (PCP) 2026–2031, aims to mobilise nearly $7 million to strengthen manufacturing, attract investment, and create jobs. The programme was launched by Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade Dennis Londo on November 3, 2026.
The six priorities include industrial policy and governance, value addition, skills development, investment and exports, cleaner production, and energy access and efficiency. According to Deputy Minister Londo, the programme will address structural challenges facing the industrial sector and support the country's Development Vision 2050 ambitions. He emphasized that Tanzania needs to move beyond exporting raw materials and focus on processing its natural resources into finished products to generate greater economic value.
The programme will cover Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, taking into account their respective industrial priorities and investment opportunities. It is a government-led partnership bringing together public institutions, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, technical experts, and development partners. Unido representative Lorence Ansermet stressed that industrial transformation requires more than infrastructure investment, highlighting the importance of partnerships, financing, and policy reforms.
The PCP will focus on strengthening industrial policies and institutions, developing sustainable value chains, and addressing shortages of technical and professional skills. It will also promote investment and exports, encourage cleaner manufacturing and circular economy practices, and improve access to reliable energy and its efficient use. According to Londo, the private sector will be central to achieving Tanzania's industrial ambitions, with businesses expected to contribute about 70 percent of the resources needed to implement Development Vision 2050.
The programme will also promote skills development among young people and women, particularly competencies needed in modern industries and emerging technologies. Zanzibar's representative, Yahaya Haji, said the partnership would strengthen industrial cooperation and investment across the Union. He urged producers to improve capacity and competitiveness to benefit from opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The government is expanding opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly those outside major urban centres. Under the 2026/27 financial arrangements, an additional five percent of local government authorities' own-source revenue has been allocated to productive infrastructure. The ministry will work with the President's Office–Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) and the Small Industries Development Organisation (Sido) to implement the initiative.
Stronger links between large industries and smaller businesses will enable local enterprises to supply manufacturers, create jobs, and spread the benefits of industrial investment. Potential sources of raw materials for various industries include the Mchuchuma coal, Liganga iron ore, and Engaruka soda ash projects. The PCP will complement Tanzania's Sustainable Industrial Development Policy 2025, Zanzibar's Industrial Policy 2019, and the development visions of both sides of the Union.
Key points
- The programme aims to mobilise nearly $7 million to strengthen manufacturing, attract investment, and create jobs.
- The six priorities include industrial policy and governance, value addition, skills development, investment and exports, cleaner production, and energy access and efficiency.
- The private sector is expected to contribute about 70 percent of the resources needed to implement Development Vision 2050.
