China and UAE Lead Foreign Investment in Tanzania Totaling Over USD 19 Billion

The Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) registered 3,538 investment projects worth USD 68.6 billion between 2021 and 2026, according to figures presented by TISEZA Director General Gilead Teri during a meeting with media editors in Dar es Salaam on 2 November 2026. The registered ventures are projected to generate more than one million jobs.

Foreign capital was led by China, which contributed USD 14.1 billion in investment capital over the five-year period. The United Arab Emirates ranked as the second-largest foreign investor with USD 5.039 billion, followed by Mauritius with USD 2.1 billion, the United Kingdom with USD 1.6 billion, and India with USD 1.5 billion.

By sector, manufacturing accounted for the largest share of activity, recording 1,061 projects or 30.0% of the total 3,538 registered projects. Transport followed with 525 projects, tourism with 335 projects, agriculture with 308 projects, and commercial buildings with 301 projects. Of the total registrations, 1,619 projects are foreign-owned, 1,158 are owned by Tanzanians, and 361 are joint ventures between local and foreign investors.

TISEZA, established through the merger of the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) and the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), outlined its strategic priorities for 2027. Teri stated that the authority plans to assist small-scale producers in reaching international markets, develop special economic zones, and upgrade registration frameworks governing businesses and free zones.