Presenting Tanzania's investment agenda at the Africa Water Investment Summit in Chad, Deputy Minister for Finance Laurent Luswetula said the government is positioning the water sector as a key pillar of economic growth under the implementation of Tanzania Development Vision 2050.
Leading the Tanzanian delegation on behalf of Finance Minister Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar, Mr Luswetula invited local and international investors to partner with the government through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to finance major water infrastructure projects and improve service delivery nationwide.
He outlined five priority investment areas: the National Water Grid, climate-resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services under the Presidential Water and Sanitation Programme, irrigation infrastructure, digital water management technologies and water source conservation.
"The government is committed to creating an enabling investment environment through transparent procedures, predictable policies and good governance to attract long-term private investment into the water sector," Mr Luswetula said.
He described water as a strategic resource that underpins agriculture, industrialisation, energy generation, urban development, public health and climate resilience, making sustained investment in the sector essential to achieving Tanzania's development ambitions.
Mr Luswetula said the forthcoming national WASH Programme, aligned with Vision 2050, will bring together government institutions, development partners, private investors and local communities to expand access to safe water and sanitation while promoting innovation and digital technologies across the sector.
The programme aims to ensure every village has access to basic clean water services by 2031 through long-term investments that will connect water-rich areas with underserved and water-scarce communities.
World Bank Regional Director for Water in Africa Saroj Kumar commended Tanzania's commitment to improving livelihoods through strategic investment and long-term planning.
He said Tanzania Development Vision 2050 places the private sector at the centre of the country's economic transformation, with an estimated 70 per cent contribution to driving future development.
"The World Bank recognises Tanzania's commitment to improving the welfare of its people, and those ambitions are clearly reflected in Vision 2050," Mr Kumar said.
The Africa Water Investment Summit convened African heads of state, ministers responsible for finance and water, development finance institutions, private investors and technical experts to advance practical solutions for improving water security across the continent.
Held under the theme "African Water Forum: From Vision to Action," the summit focused on expanding access to safe water and sanitation, mobilising greater public and private investment in water infrastructure and strengthening resilience to climate change.
Hosted by Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Déby in partnership with the World Bank, the forum also explored regional cooperation, transboundary water management and the development of National Water Compacts to attract sustainable investment into Africa's water sector.
For Tanzania, the summit provided a platform to showcase its investment pipeline, strengthen engagement with development partners and international financial institutions, and deepen collaboration with private investors to accelerate implementation of the country's expanding water infrastructure programme.
Notes to Editors
– Tanzania presented five priority investment opportunities in the water sector at the Africa Water Investment Summit as part of efforts to mobilise private capital for infrastructure development.
– The investment priorities are:
National Water Grid.
Climate-resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services.
Irrigation infrastructure.
Digital water management technologies.
Water source conservation.
– The government is promoting Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a key financing mechanism for expanding water infrastructure and improving service delivery.
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