By Peter Nyanje
Tanzania is preparing to take its investment promotion campaign directly to Europe’s boardrooms as it launches an ambitious EU–Tanzania Investment and Business Forum that could unlock billions of shillings in fresh capital for strategic sectors of the economy.
The initiative, which begins with investment roadshows across Finland, Italy and the Netherlands before culminating in a high-level forum in Dar es Salaam in early 2027, marks a shift from conventional investment promotion towards proactive investor engagement.
Rather than waiting for investors to discover Tanzania, government agencies, businesses and development partners will present bankable opportunities directly to European companies, financiers and institutional investors under the theme “EU–Tanzania Partnership: Turning Potential into Prosperity.”
For Tanzania, the timing could hardly be better.
The country is implementing Dira 2050, which places private sector-led investment, industrialisation, export competitiveness and value addition at the centre of long-term economic transformation.
At the same time, European investors are increasingly seeking reliable destinations as they diversify supply chains, invest in renewable energy and secure access to critical minerals needed for the global green transition.
The forum seeks to position Tanzania as one of Africa’s preferred investment destinations by matching European capital with projects in agribusiness, renewable energy, transport and logistics, digital innovation, fintech and critical minerals value chains – sectors that the government considers essential for accelerating industrial growth.
Unlike traditional investment conferences, the initiative has been designed as a structured deal-making platform.
The European roadshows will feature business matchmaking, sector-specific discussions, project presentations and networking sessions intended to connect Tanzanian enterprises with investors, commercial banks, export credit agencies and development finance institutions before negotiations continue in Dar es Salaam.
This approach reflects an important evolution in investment promotion.
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), competition for foreign direct investment has become increasingly intense as global investment flows remain below pre-pandemic trends. Countries that present well-prepared investment projects and provide direct access to investors are more likely to secure capital than those relying solely on promotional campaigns.
For Tanzania, this represents an opportunity to convert its economic fundamentals into actual investment commitments.
The country has invested heavily in transport infrastructure, including the Standard Gauge Railway, port modernisation and power generation, while reforms to the investment framework have sought to improve the ease of doing business and strengthen investor confidence.
The European Union is already among Tanzania’s most important development and trading partners, with cooperation spanning infrastructure, renewable energy, trade facilitation, education and private sector development.
The new investment forum builds on the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, Europe’s flagship initiative to mobilise sustainable investment in partner countries.
The programme prioritises infrastructure, clean energy, digital transformation and resilient value chains – areas that closely align with Tanzania’s development priorities.
Economists believe this alignment gives Tanzania a significant advantage.
As Europe seeks to diversify sources of critical minerals, agricultural products and clean energy partnerships, Tanzania’s abundant natural resources, strategic Indian Ocean location and expanding industrial base make it an increasingly attractive destination.
The participation of business associations, chambers of commerce, investment promotion agencies, financial institutions and government ministries is also expected to strengthen public-private collaboration, ensuring that investors engage directly with decision-makers capable of resolving regulatory and operational challenges.
Beyond attracting fresh capital, the forum is expected to support technology transfer, skills development, export market expansion and stronger integration of Tanzanian businesses into European and global value chains.
For local companies, it offers a rare opportunity to pitch directly to international investors without leaving the country, while European firms gain first-hand exposure to one of East Africa’s fastest-growing investment destinations.
As global competition for investment intensifies, Tanzania is increasingly moving beyond passive promotion to strategic investor engagement. If the roadshows generate meaningful partnerships before delegates convene in Dar es Salaam next year, the EU–Tanzania Investment and Business Forum could become one of the country’s most important investment mobilisation platforms – helping transform diplomatic and commercial ties into projects that create jobs, expand exports and accelerate industrialisation.
