Speaking at the Tanzania-Namibia Business Forum in Dar es Salaam yesterday, President Samia identified ports and logistics, agribusiness, fisheries, mining, tourism and renewable energy as priority sectors where investors from both countries can unlock new growth opportunities.

The forum formed part of President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s State visit to Tanzania and brought together government officials and business leaders seeking to expand commercial ties between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states.

President Samia said the two countries possess complementary economic strengths that remain largely underutilised despite their longstanding diplomatic relations.

“Strategically, Tanzania is positioned as the gateway to Eastern, Central and Southern Africa and in that case, we welcome Namibian business communities to explore existing business opportunities that guarantee access to a vast market,” she said.

She highlighted Tanzania’s growing transport and logistics infrastructure, including the Port of Dar es Salaam, as a major gateway connecting regional markets of more than 500 million consumers.

The President said expanding trade corridors, modernised ports and improving connectivity are creating new opportunities for investors seeking access to regional and continental markets.

The call comes as African countries intensify efforts to deepen regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to boost intra-African trade and strengthen cross-border value chains.

President Samia also encouraged Namibian investors to explore opportunities in Tanzania’s maritime economy, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, mining and energy sectors.

She noted that Tanzania’s vast agricultural potential and surplus food production could support food security partnerships with Namibia, which continues to import a significant portion of its food requirements.

“Tanzania can export products such as rice and maize to Namibia,” she said.

In the livestock sector, President Samia said Tanzania's large animal population and expanding processing industry offer opportunities for investment in value addition, meat processing and export-oriented production.

She further pointed to growing prospects in mining, oil and gas exploration and renewable energy, particularly solar power, as both countries seek to accelerate industrialisation and economic diversification.

Tourism was also identified as a strategic area for cooperation. President Samia revealed that Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) is planning to introduce direct flights to Namibia, a move expected to facilitate business travel, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

The President said Tanzania is continuing to implement reforms aimed at improving the investment climate as part of preparations to achieve the targets of the country's Vision 2050 development agenda, which seeks to transform Tanzania into a one-trillion-dollar economy.

She noted that the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) has streamlined investment procedures, reducing project registration times to just 24 hours.

For her part, President Nandi-Ndaitwah said stronger trade and investment partnerships are essential if African countries are to achieve sustainable economic independence.

She urged businesses from both countries to move beyond historical and political ties and focus on building commercially viable partnerships capable of generating jobs, industrial growth and shared prosperity.

“Africa's economic transformation depends on countries trusting one another and working together to unlock shared opportunities,” she said.

Describing Tanzania as a trusted partner, the Namibian leader challenged participants at the forum to ensure the meeting produces tangible outcomes.

“The success of this forum will be judged by the number of business deals signed. We want to see the outcome in industrialisation, manufacturing and job creation to take our people out of poverty,” she said.

Analysts say the forum reflects a broader shift across Africa, where countries are increasingly seeking to leverage historical diplomatic relationships to drive investment, strengthen regional value chains and accelerate economic transformation.

For Tanzania and Namibia, the challenge now will be translating political goodwill and liberation-era solidarity into measurable economic gains capable of creating jobs, expanding trade and improving living standards for their citizens.

Notes to Editors

– The Tanzania-Namibia Business Forum was held during President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's State visit to Tanzania.

– The forum reflects a growing emphasis on economic diplomacy and translating historical political ties into commercial partnerships.

– Priority sectors identified for bilateral investment include ports and logistics, agribusiness, fisheries, mining, tourism, renewable energy, livestock, oil and gas.

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