Govt opens public consultations on revised business and investment strategy

Dar es Salaam. The government has formally invited stakeholders and citizens to submit views on the second draft of the National Strategy for Improving the Business and Investment Environment.

The move forms part of broader preparations for the implementation of the National Vision 2050.

The minister of State in the President’s Office, [Planning and Investment], Prof Kitila Mkumbo, made the announcement in Dar es Salaam on Monday March 2, 2026 during a high-level consultative meeting with ambassadors, representatives of international organisations, and development partners.

He said the primary aim of the meeting was to refine the draft strategy through structured engagement and informed feedback.

He stressed that the government had deliberately placed the document in the public domain to enable wide consultations before it is submitted for formal approval through official decision-making organs.

The meeting was held under the theme: A Friendly Business and Investment Environment: A Key Instrument for Achieving Vision 2050.

Prof Mkumbo said the exercise demonstrated the Government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusive policy formulation.

He noted that consultations had already commenced with development partners, including ambassadors and representatives of international agencies based in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma.

Stakeholders were given an opportunity to review the revised draft and provide additional input.

Particular attention was directed towards areas affecting foreign direct investment, legal and regulatory reforms, and private sector growth.

He said the next phase of consultations would involve regional commissioners, regional administrative secretaries, and council directors.

Their participation, he added, was critical, given that many of the proposed reforms would be implemented at local government level.

This is where investors and business operators interact most directly with public institutions.

According to the minister, the strategy identifies 11 priority areas.

Technical experts have also mapped 59 major constraints that continue to impede business expansion and investment growth across the country.

To address these challenges, the Government has proposed 246 reform actions.

These are aimed at strengthening legal efficiency, improving institutional coordination, and enhancing service delivery standards.

Prof Mkumbo said March had been set aside for the collection of views and recommendations from stakeholders and the general public.

In April, the document will undergo technical review before entering the formal Government approval process.

Once approved, the strategy will serve as a central framework for strengthening Tanzania’s business climate and accelerating investment flows under the Vision 2050 agenda.

He said the ultimate goal was to create a predictable, efficient, and transparent regulatory environment that supports enterprise growth, attracts sustainable investment, and stimulates broad-based economic development.

Speaking at the same event, the Secretary of the National Technical Team, Prof Faustine Kamuzora, said the meeting also aimed to brief stakeholders on how their earlier views had been incorporated into the revised draft.

He said the consultations were designed to ensure that the strategy remained responsive to practical realities on the ground.

He added that the team was keen to receive further technical and operational suggestions to strengthen the final document.

Prof Kamuzora explained that the strategy was fully aligned with Vision 2050, under which nearly 70 per cent of implementation is expected to be driven by the private sector.

He said the effectiveness of the private sector in creating jobs, delivering goods and services, and generating wealth would be decisive in achieving the long-term national development goals.

“The private sector must be viewed as a strategic partner in development, not merely as a source of tax revenue,” he said.

He stressed the need for a shift in mindset among public officials. He urged them to recognise the private sector as a vital engine of growth and innovation.

He also emphasised that all new laws and regulations should undergo thorough regulatory impact assessments.

Such reviews, he said, were essential to determine their implications for business operations and investment decisions.

On regional competition for investment, Prof Kamuzora said the government was targeting sharp reductions in the time required to secure permits and licences.

The objective, he noted, was to enable investors to commence operations within one or two days.

He said this would significantly improve Tanzania’s competitiveness, enhance investor confidence, and reduce administrative bottlenecks that often delay project implementation.

He added that sustained improvements in infrastructure, including roads, electricity, and water supply, would further enhance productivity and operational efficiency.

Stronger accountability mechanisms within public institutions, he said, would also play a central role in improving service delivery, reducing transaction costs, and fostering a more supportive business environment.

Together, these reforms, he said, would attract higher levels of investment, stimulate job creation, and support sustained economic growth.

The public consultation process is expected to continue throughout March. Citizens, business associations, civil society groups, and development partners have been urged to submit their views.

Officials say the inclusive approach is designed to ensure that the final strategy reflects broad national consensus and delivers tangible improvements to Tanzania’s investment and business climate.

As the country advances towards Vision 2050, the Government maintains that a modern, efficient, and transparent business environment will be indispensable in securing long-term prosperity and inclusive development.