Opening the 50th edition of one of Africa's longest-running trade exhibitions on Friday, President Samia said the annual event has evolved into a major marketplace connecting businesses, investors and manufacturers with opportunities across the continent and beyond.
Mozambican President Daniel Chapo, who attended as Guest of Honour, joined regional and international business leaders, diplomats and exhibitors at the milestone event.
"For the past 50 years, this trade fair has served as an important bridge connecting manufacturers with buyers, traders with markets, investors with business opportunities and Tanzania with the rest of the world," President Samia said.
The exhibition comes as Tanzania continues to position itself as a regional investment and logistics hub, leveraging its strategic location on the Indian Ocean, expanding transport infrastructure and preferential access to the markets of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
President Samia said the fair has enabled thousands of entrepreneurs to expand from small businesses into larger enterprises by providing access to new markets, commercial partnerships and investment opportunities.
She welcomed growing international participation at this year's exhibition, highlighting the presence of companies from Oman, Indonesia and dozens of other countries. More than 20 companies from Oman are participating in the event, reflecting increasing commercial engagement between Tanzania and international investors.
According to the President, the expanding international presence demonstrates growing confidence in Tanzania as a regional business destination and an entry point to some of Africa's fastest-growing markets.
She urged exhibitors to embrace innovation, technology and value addition to strengthen the country's competitiveness and elevate DITF into a globally recognised trade and investment platform.
President Samia also praised President Chapo's participation, describing it as a reflection of the longstanding diplomatic relationship between Tanzania and Mozambique and the growing economic partnership between the two neighbouring countries.
"Our partnership continues to evolve from historic political solidarity into stronger economic cooperation that benefits businesses and investors on both sides of the border," she said.
According to the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TANTRADE), the trade fair has facilitated business transactions and investment opportunities worth approximately 129.23 trillion Tanzanian shillings over the past five decades, reinforcing its role in promoting industrial development and export growth.
TANTRADE Director General Dr Latifa Mohamed Khamis said the exhibition has hosted participants from 54 countries on 564 occasions, attracting more than 10 million visitors and over 38,000 exhibitors since its establishment in 1976.
The fair has also contributed significantly to employment creation, generating nearly 632,000 jobs over the past 50 years, with more than 21,000 additional temporary and permanent jobs expected during this year's event.
For the 2026 edition, organisers project business transactions and on-site sales worth approximately 17 billion Tanzanian shillings through more than 3,700 commercial deals involving around 4,800 exhibitors, while visitor numbers are expected to exceed 624,000.
A major highlight of this year's exhibition is the launch of the Made in Tanzania national branding initiative, designed to promote locally manufactured products, strengthen export competitiveness and enhance the international visibility of Tanzanian goods.
Industry and Trade Minister Judith Kapinga said the government intends to transform DITF into a modern platform where technology, innovation, manufacturing and investment converge to connect Tanzanian enterprises with regional and global value chains.
Officials said the initiative aligns with Tanzania's long-term Development Vision 2050, which prioritises industrialisation, export-led growth, investment promotion and deeper integration into regional and global markets.
The Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair has grown into one of East Africa's premier trade and investment events, providing governments, multinational companies, manufacturers and entrepreneurs with a platform to forge partnerships, expand market access and advance Africa's economic integration agenda.
– The 2026 Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair marks the 50th anniversary of one of Africa's oldest and most influential trade exhibitions.
– Since its establishment in 1976, DITF has evolved into a major platform for trade promotion, investment attraction and industrial development.
– According to TANTRADE, the fair has facilitated transactions and investment opportunities worth approximately 129.23 trillion Tanzanian shillings over five decades.
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