Investment framework and opportunities in Tanzania
Procedures Relative to Foreign Investment
- Obligation to Declare
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The Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) operates as a one-stop shop for foreign investors. Foreign companies are not required to register with the TIC; however, registering is the only way to be eligible to benefit from investment incentives (through investment incentives), including VAT and import duty exemptions. Registering with the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA) in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar provides access to similar investment incentives.
- Requests For Specific Authorisations
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Foreigners need to meet certain conditions in order to be recognised as "strategic" or "special strategic investors": The minimum investment capital to obtain "strategic investor" status is USD50 million for wholly owned foreign companies and joint ventures with Tanzanians. The threshold is USD300 million for the "special strategic investor" status. The status is granted by the National Investment Steering Committee (NISC).
Foreign investors are barred from most tourism activities: Mountain guiding, travel agency, car rental and tour guiding are not open to foreigners. Port services licences are only granted to Tanzanian companies. Furthermore, there are various restrictions in fisheries: Foreign-owned ships cannot engage in local trade. Only Tanzanians can be licenses as shipping agents. Fishing and fish export licenses cost three times the local ones, exclude several operations and collection of specified fish and fish products.
Gemstone mining licenses are granted exclusively to Tanzanians (a minister waiver is available).
Pursuant to the Zanzibar Investment Promotion and Protection Act, the government can restrict foreign investment in Zanzibar in order to provide better terms to Zanzibaris engaged in businesses requiring natural resources.
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Latest Update: November 2025
Tanzania: Investing in Tanzania
