By Business Insider Reporter
Tanzania has intensified its drive to build a self-reliant pharmaceutical industry, with the government targeting an 85 percent reduction in imported medicines and health products by 2030 as part of a broader strategy to strengthen national health security and industrial development.
The ambitious target was reaffirmed by Health Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa during the launch of the Mloganzila Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Industrial Zone and the announcement of a strategic partnership between Tanzania and global biotechnology company Sartorius.
Speaking at the event held recently, Mchengerwa directed the Pharmaceutical Investment Acceleration Taskforce (PIAT) to become the government’s lead implementation vehicle in transforming Tanzania into a regional hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing, vaccines and medical technologies.
“The task ahead of us is significant, but it is within reach. This is not an ordinary target. It is a transformational nation-building agenda that requires speed, discipline, innovation, coordination and serious follow-through,” said Mchengerwa.
A strategic shift from imports to local production
Tanzania, like many African countries, has historically relied heavily on imported medicines, vaccines and medical supplies, exposing the country to supply disruptions, currency pressures and rising healthcare costs during global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Government data shows that Africa imports the majority of its pharmaceuticals, despite growing healthcare demand and rapid population growth across the continent. Tanzanian authorities now view local pharmaceutical manufacturing not only as a health priority, but also as a strategic economic and industrial opportunity.
The Mloganzila industrial zone is expected to become the centrepiece of that transition.
According to Mchengerwa, the zone is being designed as a specialised pharmaceutical ecosystem integrating manufacturing plants, biotechnology facilities, research laboratories, regulatory services, logistics infrastructure, training centres and innovation hubs within one purpose-built location.
“This goes far beyond a normal industrial park,” he said. “It is a strategic cluster designed to integrate manufacturing, technology, regulation, research and market access in one ecosystem.”
The minister said the pharmaceutical clustering model was necessary because the industry requires highly specialised infrastructure, strict regulatory compliance and coordinated supply chains that ordinary industrial zones cannot adequately support.
Tanzania positions itself in the global biotech economy
A major highlight of the event was Tanzania’s partnership with Sartorius, one of the world’s leading suppliers of biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies.
The German company is globally recognised for its expertise in biologics, vaccines, cell and gene therapy, laboratory technologies and advanced bio-processing systems used in modern pharmaceutical production.
Under the agreement, Tanzania aims to strengthen domestic capacity to manufacture critical vaccines and biological products locally – a move that could significantly reduce dependence on imported vaccines and improve emergency preparedness.
Mchengerwa said the partnership gives Tanzania direct access to world-class technologies and technical expertise that underpin the modern global pharmaceutical industry.
“Sartorius is not simply a supplier. It is one of the world’s most influential players in biopharmaceutical innovation,” he said.
“For Tanzania, this partnership goes beyond equipment procurement. It connects us to global standards, systems, knowledge and technologies that power advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing.”
Industry analysts say the partnership reflects a growing trend among African economies seeking to attract strategic health-sector investment amid global efforts to diversify pharmaceutical supply chains beyond traditional manufacturing centres.
Economic impact beyond healthcare
The government says the pharmaceutical industrialisation agenda is closely linked to Tanzania’s wider economic transformation strategy under Dira 2050, which prioritises industrial development, value addition, technology transfer and job creation.
Officials expect the Mloganzila pharmaceutical zone to attract both local and foreign investment while creating opportunities for scientists, engineers, researchers, logistics firms and manufacturers.
The initiative also aligns with Tanzania’s efforts to reduce pressure on foreign exchange reserves by cutting imports of high-value medical products.
Beyond economics, authorities argue that local production will improve medicine availability, stabilise supply chains and reduce the risk of shortages during international emergencies.
Mchengerwa said the government expects PIAT to closely monitor implementation and ensure presidential directives are translated into concrete industrial outcomes.
“The goal is clear,” he said. “We want industries, jobs, technologies, medicines, vaccines and medical equipment produced here in Tanzania.”
The government has also instructed PIAT to help eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, coordinate institutions and support credible investors willing to establish pharmaceutical operations in the country. With the launch of the Mloganzila industrial zone and the Sartorius partnership, Tanzania is now positioning itself among a growing group of African nations seeking to develop domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and reduce dependence on global imports.
