 |
| TIC Executive Director Gilead Teri, alongside Tanzania's Ambassador to Japan, Baraka Luvanda, announced the upcoming Tanzania-Japan Infrastructure Forum at a press briefing in Dar es Salaam on October 1, 2024. The forum, scheduled for October 3, 2024, will bring together 60 Japanese companies to explore investment opportunities in Tanzania's infrastructure sector. Photo: Courtesy |
By Charles Mkoka
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is set to host a high-profile interstate forum on October 3, 2024, at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center.
The event, organized by Tanzania's Ambassador to Japan Baraka Luvanda, will welcome representatives from 60 Japanese companies, all members of the Japan Africa Infrastructure Association (JAIDA).
The forum aims to foster collaboration between Japan and Tanzania in various infrastructure-related investment projects.
Speaking to the press on October 1, 2024, Ambassador Luvanda emphasized the significance of this visit, noting that the Japanese delegation is eager to explore investment opportunities in Tanzania. The companies involved specialize in critical sectors such as road infrastructure, airports, and ports.
The opportunity will provide an avenue for Japanese investors to engage with Tanzanian stakeholders, sharing expertise and discussing potential projects that could spur development across the country.
The visit is a result of a successful investment campaign launched in Japan between May and June 2024. According to Ambassador Luvanda, the positive feedback from investors led to concrete engagements as early as July, culminating in this October forum.
He expressed optimism that the outcomes of these discussions could lead to increased investments by January 2025. "We believe that by January, the number of investors may increase," he stated.
Japan's focus on infrastructure projects stems from its expertise in developing resilient infrastructure in response to natural disasters such as earthquakes.
Ambassador Luvanda highlighted that the partnership will likely bring about long-term, high-quality infrastructure projects in Tanzania, leveraging Japan's experience in disaster-proof construction.
In addition to infrastructure, the forum has also sparked discussions about agricultural investment. Gilead Teri, the Executive Director of the Tanzania Investment Center (TIC), encouraged Tanzanian farmers to capitalize on the growing demand for coffee in Japan. He urged farmers to focus on coffee cultivation, emphasizing the lucrative potential of meeting Japan’s increasing coffee needs.
This forum marks another important step in strengthening the economic ties between Tanzania and Japan, with both sides hopeful that the collaboration will lead to significant development in Tanzania's infrastructure and agriculture sectors.
The opportunity is expected to be a key milestone in Tanzania’s continued efforts to attract foreign investment and stimulate economic growth through strategic international partnerships.