By Business Insider Reporter
Tanzania has taken a major step toward its goal of becoming a digital economy with the launch of the country’s first fully integrated digital business hub in Dar es Salaam.
The new facility, based at the East Africa Commercial and Logistics Center (EACLC) at Ubungo in Dar es Salaam, is backed by a partnership between local mobile operator Yas, its fintech subsidiary Mixx by Yas, and EACLC – with an investment exceeding TZS 1 billion.
The hub is designed to support more than 2,000 businesses by providing high-speed fibre optic internet and a comprehensive suite of mobile financial services.
The digital infrastructure and tools being deployed will allow tenants to perform critical business functions – from rent payments and supplier transactions to payroll and insurance – entirely via mobile platforms.
This move aligns with Tanzania’s broader national strategy to foster a digitally-driven economy, particularly through expanding access to digital financial services (DFS).
With features like real-time payments, cashless agent networks, mobile credit, and digital compliance, the hub is being positioned as a model for how digital finance can enable inclusive economic development.
“This is not just infrastructure; it’s a foundation for transformation,” said Angelica Pesha, CEO of Mixx by Yas. “We’re creating a future where doing business in Tanzania is fast, cashless, and fully mobile.”
The new digital business hub – housed in a 75,000-square-meter, four-floor complex – will also serve as a one-stop center for trade services, hosting customs, banking, logistics, and retail operations under one roof.
By digitally connecting all these services, the project aims to streamline commerce and lower operating costs for businesses.
The phased rollout of digital connectivity and mobile financial services will begin in July 2025, with full coverage of the complex expected by early 2026.
Onboarding, compliance support, and digital literacy training will be provided to ensure businesses of all sizes, including informal and small-scale traders, can participate.
Pierre Canton-Bacara, CEO of Yas, emphasised the broader vision: “This is about more than connectivity — it’s about unlocking productivity and enabling Tanzanian businesses to thrive in the digital age.” The initiative is expected to play a catalytic role in accelerating Tanzania’s shift from a cash-based economy to a more transparent, inclusive, and efficient digital financial ecosystem.
