THE Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) yesterday commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan's economic diplomacy as a key driver in attracting international investors to Tanzania.

EPZA Director General, Charles Itembe, made the statement in Dar es Salaam during a meeting with a delegation from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce to explore investment opportunities.

“Tanzania is now recognised as a gateway for manufacturers targeting African and global markets,” he said, attributing the high-profile visit to the achievements of the Sixth Government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s exemplary leadership.

During the discussions, Itembe assured the Dubai Chamber of Commerce delegation of the safety and security of their investments in Tanzania.

He emphasized that Tanzania’s close diplomatic ties and economic cooperation with numerous countries make it an ideal investment destination.

He further informed the delegation of Tanzania’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which grants duty-free and quota-free access to the African market for goods produced in Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

Mr Itembe urged Dubai Chamber members to seize this timely investment opportunity.

He also shared details of Tanzania’s ongoing preparations for SEZs in key locations, including Bagamoyo, which alone is expected to host over 2,000 industries.

Other priority areas include Dodoma, Tanga, Kwala and Kigoma, where EPZA has allocated large tracts of land for industrial development.

He said the private sector is invited to invest in infrastructure and establish factories to produce various goods.

“Through such visits, EPZA aims to enhance its competitiveness in attracting industrial investors from various countries, including the Arab world, ultimately yielding positive outcomes for Tanzania's economic growth,” he noted.

He asserted that the delegation's visit serves as proof of the global acceptance of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) programmes.

“These programmes have been instrumental in advancing industrial economies worldwide, enabling nations to rapidly boost domestic production,” he highlighted.

Discussing the delegation's agenda, the EPZA Director General noted that the visit aimed to enhance the existing partnership between EPZA and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.

He said the delegation also sought to explore investment opportunities available in Tanzania's SEZs.

The President of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and head of delegation, Mohammad Ali Lootah, acknowledged the remarkable growth in trade between Tanzania and Dubai, now valued at 2.7 billion US dollars.

He attributed this increase to the flourishing Tanzania-UAE trade relations, bolstered by ongoing investments in Tanzania's port sector.

Given the strong ties between Tanzania and Dubai, Lootah remarked that many investors are keen on exploring Tanzania's investment potential through Special Economic Zones.

“EPZA, he said, should expect an influx of businesspeople and industrialists eager to identify opportunities in Tanzania’s industrial sector and beyond,” he stated.