In recent days the sixth phase government has been putting in place a great efforts in achieving the goal of realizing an industrialized economy country, this government’s commitment has been manifested after many investors expressed interest in investing in Tanzania in various sectors including manufacturing sector. This is a proof that the government’s efforts are beginning to bear fruit, as despite the fact that local investors have increased in number, even statistics show that many foreign investors have expressed their interest in investing in Tanzania.
As these efforts continue, Recently Vipawa Management Group (VMG) has successfully held a business meeting of its kind between the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade in Shenzhen and Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA)
The meeting aims to develop business and trade relations between China and Tanzania. Chinese people intend to promote the mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries in line with law and government policies.
At the meeting held on August 31, 2021 in Dar es Salaam; China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shenzhen (CCPIT Shenzhen) expressed interest in seeing the opportunities available in Agriculture, mining, tourism, trade and industry and wanted to know how Tanzania serves investors interested in investing in various sectors.
Acting Director General of Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), John Mnali attended the online business meeting where he gave a presentation contained sufficient information about the investment climate in Tanzania, He also explained about all the procedures to be considered in company registration, the criteria and conditions to be followed during registration stage. Also the director explained in detail all the things that stakeholders holders wanted to know including business opportunities available in Tanzania
After explaining in detail the investment opportunities available through EPZA, Acting Director, Mr. Mnali explained that in this country an investor has three choices of the institution he sees will suit him best depending on the investment he wants to make.
He mentioned three investor support institutions namely EPZA which is specifically for industries that plan to produce for the export market, TIC – Tanzania Investment Center which accommodates all sectors intends to take advantages foreign and domestic markets, also explained about ZIPA – Zanzibar investment Promotion Authority which oversees all investment opportunities in the islands of Zanzibar.
Mr. Mnali said that an investor can choose any institution he wants to apply for registration, and through EPZA the investor can be registered through the EPZ or SEZ scheme. Whereas through the EPZ license, the investor will be responsible for exporting at least 80% of the products he produces, it must also be a processing plant and ultimately its exports should not be less than $ 500,000 per foreign investor and $ 100,000 per local investor.
Also in his presentation, Mr. Mnali informed us that there are various incentives for all investors who can invest through the EPZA Scheme, where he started mentioning One Stope Service Center (OSSC), which accommodates representatives from all key institutions including Tanzania Revenue Authority, Labor and Migration. Also through OSSC, EPZA officials will ensure that you have access to all other services providers as well as networking the investors with key stakeholders to achieve the intended investment goals.
Mr. Mnali also stated that through the EPZ license, the investor is allowed to import machinery, production equipment and any other capital goods related to EPZ investment without paying any taxes and duties.
He also explained that an investor using an EPZ license will not pay VAT on all raw materials he buys for the purpose of producing export products, also VAT on utilities have been completely waived to reduce production costs.
Other benefits of investing through EPZA he said are that the investor will do business freely, unconditional transferability of the net profit, payments of foreign loans, payment of Royalties, fees and any personal benefits.
About the opportunities available in TANZANIA; in Agricultural sector, Mr. Mnali said, “Currently the government’s goal is to find investors who can invest heavily in agricultural sector and add value to pre-export crops in order to avoid selling raw produce.
He also mentioned that there is a great opportunity to invest in the production of edible oil products, as still in Tanzania the capacity to produce crops such as sesame, sunflower and palm oil is great, so we invite various investors in this important sector, as the market for edible oil is large domestically and abroad
In addition to processing edible oil, Mr. Mnali explained that there is a huge opportunity in the cultivation of avocado as this product has a market that is global and is in great demand in various places.
Mr. Mnali mentioned various areas where the avocado crop thrives including Moshi, Arusha, Mbeya and Njombe. He also mentioned that another opportunity exists is in horticultural crops which Tanzania produces in large quantities as well
He also added that value addition is not limited to agricultural products but to all Sectors in the country should benefit; starting from the mining industry, timber products, honey, leather, textile, livestock, fisheries and meat
Giving additional information on the mining sector, Mr. Mnali said that the sector contributes significantly to Tanzania’s economic growth, He said the business is very open, adding that apart from processing minerals, there is an opportunity to build hotels of different status, entertainment Centre’s and hospitality for tourists.
In Trade and Industry Mr. Mnali said there is a lot to do in the manufacturing sector as many manufactured products that are used in the country are imported including food, medicine and medical equipment.
In addition to those opportunities, Mr. Mnali said in the small industry timber products the opportunity is huge as Tanzania has the potential to produce many tons of timbers due to the presence of large natural forests and planted trees, he also mentioned that there are opportunities to fish in lakes and sea areas and that these opportunities are open to investors.
After a good presentation from Acting EPZA Director General, John Mnali. CCPIT Shenzhen expressed great satisfaction with the opportunities and incentives offered by the country and promised that China will take advantage of invest in Tanzania in the near future, also a CCPIT representative noted that Tanzania is very popular China for the existence of the tallest mountain in Africa (Mount Kilimanjaro), Zanzibar Islands and beautiful natural beaches.
Katika siku za hivi karibuni Serikali ya awamu ya sita imekuwa ikiweka nguvu kubwa kuvitia uwekezaji na takwimu zinaonyesha kuwa jitihada hizo zimezaa matunda kwa kuwa na idadi kubwa ya wawekezaji kutoka nje walioonyesha nia ya kuwekeza hapa nchini.
Wakati juhudi hizo zikiendelea hivi karibuni kampuni ya Vipawa Management Group (VMG) ilifanikisha mkutano wa kibiashara wa aina yake kati ya wawekezaji wa China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shenzhen (CCPIT) na Mamlaka ya Maeneo ya Uzalishaji wa Mauzo ya Nje (EPZA).
Mkutano huo ulilenga kuchangiza biashara na mahusiano ya kibisahara kati ya China na Tanzania. Watu wa China walitaka kupata uelewa wa kina na kuimarisha urafiki katika ya mataifa haya mawili katika muktadha wa kisheria na sera za serikali.
Katika mkutano huo uliofanyika Agosti 31, 2021 jijini Dar es Salaam China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shenzhen (CCPIT Shenzhen) walikuwa wanashauku ya kujua fursa zilizopo katika sekta ya kilimo, madini, utalii biashara na viwanda na namna gani Serikali ya Tanzania inaunga mkono uwekezaji.
Kaimu Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Mamlaka ya Maeneo ya Uzalishaji wa Mauzo ya Nje ( EPZA) Bw. John Mnali alishiriki mkutano huo wa kibiashara uliofanyika kwa njia ya mtandao ambapo aliwapatia wawekezaji hao maeleze ya mambo yote waliyotaka kujua sambamba na kuwafafanulia juu ya fursa zilizopo.
Kabla ya kuzitaja na kuzifungua fursa zilizopo katika maeneo husika Mnali alieleza kuwa kwa hapa nchini mwekezaji ana milango mitatu ya kuanzisha uwekezaji wake akiitaja kuwa ni;Mamlaka ya Maeneo ya Uzalishaji wa Mauzo ya Nje (EPZA) ambayo inahusisha uwekezaji wa viwanda zinavyozalisha bidhaa za kuuza nje, Kituo Cha Uwekezaji- (TIC), Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZPA), ambayo inasimamia uwekezaji Tanzania-Zanzibar.
Bw. Mnali alieleza kuwa kwa upande wa EPZA mwekezaji mwenyewe anaweza kwa kutumia leseni ya maeneo ya uzalishaji kwa mauzo ya nje- EPZ, aambapo mwekezaji anatakiwa kuuza nje ya nchi asilimia kuanzia 80 ya kile anachokizalisha.
Kuhusu fursa zilizopo nchini katika sekta ya kilimo, Bw. Mnali alisema “Kwa sasa mwelekeo wa Serikali ni kupata wawekezaji wa kuongeza thamani katika mazao mbalimbali ya kilimo na sio kuuza nje ya nchi yakiwa ghafi, pia alieleza kua Kuna fursa kubwa ya kuzalisha mafuta ya kupikia kutoka katika mazao yetu”. Kwakua soko la mafuta ya kula bado ni kuwa ndani na nje ya nchi, na Tanzania inazalisha kwa wingi mazao kama; ufuta, alizeti, na michikichi ambayo ni malighafi ya kuzalishia mafuta ya kula.
Mbali na ukamuaji wa mafuta, Bw.Mnali alieleza kuwa kuna fursa ya kilimo cha maparachichi ambayo yanahitajika kwa wingi katika maeneo mbalimbali Duniani, sanjari na mazao mengine ya bustanini (horticulture).
Alisema kuongeza thamani sio tu kwenye mazao ya kilimo bali kila sekta ya uzalishaji ikiwa ni pamoja na madini kwa kuyaongezea thamani hapa nchini na sio kuyauza yakiwa ghafi “Tunahitaji vitu kama uchenjuaji, ili kuchenjua na kuyaongezea thamani madini yetu”.
Katika sekta ya madini ambayo huchangia sehemu kubwa ya uchumi wa Tanzania. Bw. Mnali aliongeza pia kuna fursa zingine za biashara zilizo wazi kama fursa ya kujenga hoteli za hadhi tofauti tofauti pamoja na miundombinu ya burudani na ukarimu kwa watalii.
Katika biashara na viwanda Bw.Mnali alisema kuna mengi ya kufanya katika viwanda kwakuwa bidhaa nyingi za viwandani Tanzania zinazinunua kutoka nje ya nchi hususani vyakula, dawa na vifaa tiba.
Alisema kwa sasa Tanzania inatumia fedha nyingi kununua bidhaa hizo nje ya nchi akitolea mfano wa dawa na vifaa tiba akisema soko lake hapa nchini ni kubwa pia aliongezea kwa kusema, taasisi ya kununua na kusambaza dawa (MSD), imepewa idhini ya kusambaza dawa katika nchi za SADC, hivyo mwekezaji yeyote katika eneo hilo atakuwa na uhakika wa soko la bidhaa zake.
Mbali na fursa hizo Bw. Mnali alisema, katika sekta ndogo ya mbao na bidhaa za mbao fursa ni kubwa kutokana na uwepo wa misitu ya asili na miti ya kupandwa, lakini pia kuna fursa ya uvuvi katika maziwa na eneo la bahari na fursa zote hizo ziko wazi kwa wawekezaji.
Vilevile Bw.Mnali alisema kuna fursa ya kuzalisha bidhaa za kielektroniki hapa nchini pamoja na uunganishaji wa magari, mashine na mitambo mbalimbali ambayo inahitaji katika soko la ndani na nje.
Baada ya kusikia fursa hizo CCPIT Shenzhen, ilieleza kufurahishwa na uwepo wa fursa hizo na motisha ambazo nchi inatoa kwa wawekezaji; hivyo wakaahidi kua wawekezaji kutoka China watakuja siku zijazo, hata hivyo walisema Tanzania inafahamika nchini China kwa uwepo wa mlima mrefu barani Afrika (Kilimanjaro), Visiwa vya Zanzibar na fukwe nzuri.
