By Business Insider Reporter
Tanzania’s manufacturing sector has been challenged to accelerate the adoption of sustainable production practices, innovation and technological advancement as the country seeks to build a more competitive and resilient industrial economy.
The call was made at the 19th President’s Manufacturer of the Year Awards (PMAYA 2026), held in Dar es Salaam under the theme “Green Elegance – Celebrating Sustainable Manufacturing Practices.”
The awards, organised by the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI), brought together manufacturers, policymakers, financiers and other stakeholders to celebrate industrial excellence while placing sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices at the centre of Tanzania’s manufacturing agenda.
Guest of Honour, Vice President Deogratius John Ndejembi, said the government remained committed to creating an environment that enables manufacturers to expand production, invest in modern technologies and contribute more effectively to economic transformation.
He used the occasion to call for urgent action to address rising cement prices, directing the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and cement manufacturers to work together to increase supply and make the product more affordable.
The Vice President’s intervention underscored the importance of ensuring that industrial growth translates into affordable and accessible products for consumers while maintaining the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers.
Minister for Industry and Trade Judith Kapinga said the government recognised manufacturing as a critical pillar of Tanzania’s economic transformation, particularly through value addition, employment creation, export growth and increased domestic production.
She emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between government and the private sector to overcome barriers to industrial growth and unlock greater investment opportunities.
For CTI Executive Director Eng. Leodegar Tenga, PMAYA 2026 represented more than an annual celebration of manufacturing achievements; it marked an important shift towards measuring how responsibly and sustainably businesses grow.
“Sustainable production is no longer an option. It is becoming a requirement for competitiveness, access to finance, investment and international markets,” Eng. Tenga said.
He said manufacturers needed to embrace ESG principles not merely as compliance requirements but as tools for improving productivity, reducing costs, strengthening corporate resilience and opening access to global value chains.
A major innovation at this year’s awards was the introduction of 10 ESG Ambassadors, whose companies will be monitored over the next 12 months to assess the implementation and measurable impact of their sustainability initiatives. The best performer is expected to be recognised as the ESG Champion at PMAYA 20.
The awards also recognised outstanding manufacturing performance, with SILAFRICA Tanzania Limited emerging as the overall winner, followed by Alliance One Tanzania as first runner-up and Tanzania Cigarette Public Limited Company (TCC PLC) as second runner-up.
Other notable winners included Bonite Bottlers Limited, which emerged as the winner in the large-scale non-alcoholic beverages category, while ALAF Limited continued its remarkable performance in metal and steel products.
The PMAYA 2026 sustainability agenda comes as Tanzania seeks to deepen industrialisation, strengthen local value addition and position domestic enterprises to compete more effectively in regional and international markets. For manufacturers, the message from PMAYA 19 was clear: the next phase of Tanzania’s industrialisation will not be measured solely by how much the country produces, but increasingly by how efficiently, responsibly and sustainably it produces it.
