As the government looks to boost manufacturing growth and provide employment prospects, the tour, which started in Hangzhou, represents a change from broad investment promotion to focused industrial collaborations.
Speaking at a gathering of over 100 business executives and investors organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Kapinga presented Tanzania as a key entry point to markets in East and Central Africa. She outlined a number of incentives intended to lower operating costs and expedite industrial projects.
She stated, “We are positioning Tanzania as a competitive hub for industrial production and trade,” citing key industries as manufacturing, agro-processing, and export-oriented businesses.
The visit highlights Dar es Salaam’s increasing need to attract foreign direct investment that produces real industrial production rather than staying focused on extractive sectors.
Chen Jianzhong, her Chinese counterpart, expressed a great deal of interest from investors by promising to improve commercial relations, attract investment, and increase industrial development cooperation between Zhejiang Province and Tanzania, which is already one of China’s most important East African allies.
Analysts view the focus on Zhejiang—one of China’s most vibrant private-sector economies—as a strategic move, giving Tanzania access to experienced manufacturers seeking overseas expansion amid rising production costs at home.
Before ending in Huizhou, the investment roadshow will continue in Fuzhou. To gauge Tanzania’s capacity to turn interest into solid investment proposals, more high-level gatherings and investor roundtables are anticipated.
