Tanzania and the Dangote Group are in talks over a significant expansion of the conglomerate's investments in the country, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan appointing the Minister of Planning and Investment to coordinate a strategic partnership with Dangote Industries Limited following high-level discussions with the Group's President and Chief Executive, Aliko Dangote.
The meeting, held at the State House in Dar es Salaam, covered port development, a 40-kilometre concrete access road to support port operations, a special trade zone, a proposed 2,000-megawatt coal-fired power plant, a urea fertiliser plant and transport infrastructure linking Mtwara with Mbamba Bay in southern Tanzania.
A Tanzanian government delegation led by the Minister is expected to visit Nigeria in the coming days to advance discussions and develop implementation frameworks for the proposed projects, signalling concrete governmental commitment beyond the initial talks.
Dangote said Tanzania remains one of Africa's most attractive investment destinations, noting that the Group had identified strategic sectors capable of delivering significant economic value.
"We have identified areas that can deliver significant value for Tanzania, and we are ready to work together to develop them for our mutual benefit," he said.
President Samia directed relevant ministries and government agencies to commence detailed technical discussions on the proposed investments in line with the country's legal, policy and development priorities.
According to a statement from the Directorate of Presidential Communications, Tanzania remains committed to strengthening private sector partnerships as part of efforts to mobilise productive investment, accelerate industrialisation, promote technology transfer and create sustainable employment.
Dangote also used the meeting to explain the commercial and technical considerations behind the Group's decision to locate its planned East African petroleum refinery in Lamu, Kenya, extending an invitation to the Tanzanian government to participate in the investment — a project that would have significant implications for regional energy supply across East Africa.
Dangote Industries already operates one of Tanzania's largest industrial investments through its US$500 million cement plant in Mtwara, which has an annual production capacity of three million tonnes and supplies both the domestic market and neighbouring countries.