By Mwanamkasi Jumbe
Tanzania has secured a major diplomatic and economic win after being unanimously elected by member states of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to serve on its Board of Directors from 2025 to 2029, and on the influential Programme and Budget Committee from 2025 to 2027.
The decision, announced at the 21st UNIDO General Conference in Riyadh, positions Tanzania at the heart of global industrial policy debates at a time when Africa is pushing for greater value addition, technology transfer, and sustainable industrialisation.
The UNIDO Board is the organisation’s second-highest policy-making organ, responsible for guiding strategic direction, reviewing global industrial development trends, and overseeing implementation of major programmes.
Tanzania’s membership not only elevates its diplomatic standing but also strengthens East Africa’s voice in global conversations on manufacturing, green growth, and industrial financing.
Ambassador Naimi Aziz, Tanzania’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, represented President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the conference. In her remarks, she expressed gratitude to African member states for their unanimous support, emphasising that the appointment underscores Tanzania’s growing credibility as a champion of industrial development and regional cooperation.
“This trust demonstrates the confidence African nations have in Tanzania’s leadership and commitment to advancing shared industrialisation goals,” she said. “Our position on the Board and the Programme and Budget Committee gives us a unique opportunity to shape policies, contribute to strategic programme design, and ensure that Africa’s priorities are reflected in UNIDO’s global agenda.”
The timing of Tanzania’s elevation is significant. Under President Samia, the country has accelerated its industrialisation drive through reforms targeting manufacturing competitiveness, investment climate improvements, energy reliability, and SME support. Tanzania has also strengthened collaboration with UNIDO in areas such as agro-processing, SME technology upgrading, industrial parks development, and sustainable energy solutions.
As a Board member, Tanzania is expected to influence decision-making on project funding, technical cooperation, and global industrial initiatives. This includes advocating for stronger support for African value chains, enhancing technology transfer to least industrialised countries, and promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation in line with SDG 9.
The Programme and Budget Committee, on which Tanzania will serve for the 2025–2027 term, plays an even more technical role – overseeing resource allocation, evaluating programme priorities, and scrutinising UNIDO’s financial planning. Membership in this committee gives Tanzania a direct hand in shaping which projects receive funding and how resources are deployed across developing regions.
The Tanzanian delegation to the conference included Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development, Women and Special Groups, Felister Mdemu, and Director of Industrial Development at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Juma Mwampamba.
Their presence reflects the multi-sectoral nature of Tanzania’s industrial ambitions, which span manufacturing, skills development, women’s economic empowerment, and regional value-chain integration.
For Tanzania, the appointment marks both recognition and responsibility. It underscores the country’s rising profile in multilateral diplomacy and industrial policy, while opening new avenues to influence Africa’s industrialisation trajectory. With UNIDO placing increasing emphasis on green manufacturing, digital transformation and resilience-building, Tanzania’s voice will be crucial in ensuring that the continent’s needs – including infrastructure financing, SME upgrading and technology access – remain at the centre of global industrial cooperation. As the world shifts toward low-carbon development and sustainable value addition, Tanzania’s new role at UNIDO offers an opportunity to help shape the future of African industry – while strengthening the foundations of its own industrial economy.
