WASHINGTON – The Government of Tanzania has reached an agreement with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Government to strategically implement a recently signed health-sector agreement aimed at benefiting both sides, while positioning Tanzania as a hub for the production and distribution of medicines and medical supplies across Africa.
Speaking on September 4, 2026, at the U.S.-Tanzania Health Partnership Stakeholders Meeting held between the Government of Tanzania and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., and later during a meeting with senior officials from the U.S. Department of State, Tanzania’s Minister for Health, Hon. Mohamed Omary Mchengerwa, said Tanzania is already well prepared to ensure the agreement is fully implemented.
Investment Incentives and Institutional Support
Mchengerwa said Tanzania is working to align taxes and duties on pharmaceutical raw materials and packaging with EAC and SADC systems to make local production more competitive than imports.
Beyond Tanzania’s domestic market of about 60 million people, the country has been selected to host and lead the SADC Pooled Procurement Services, giving manufacturers direct access to a regional market of 16 SADC countries with more than 300 million people.
Highlighting the country’s institutional reforms, Mchengerwa explained: “The Government recognizes that attracting investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing requires more than simply promoting investment opportunities. It requires transforming the environment in which companies operate.”
To address this challenge, the Ministry of Health established the Pharmaceutical Investment Acceleration Taskforce (PIAT), bringing together key government institutions to accelerate pharmaceutical investment.
Building Infrastructure and Regulatory Capacity
Tanzania is developing a dedicated Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for the pharmaceutical sector in Mloganzila, outside Dar es Salaam, where prepared, utility-ready plots are available for investors. Initial allocations for selected plots are already complete.
Additionally, national plans are underway to establish a National Vaccine and Biological Products Manufacturing Plant, enhancing domestic manufacturing capabilities.
On the regulatory side, the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) has achieved WHO Maturity Level 3, ranking it among Africa’s most advanced regulators. Furthermore, TMDA’s new reliance mechanisms leverage approvals from established agencies like the U.S. FDA, preventing duplicate assessment procedures.
Tanzania provides a secure environment designed to lower capital risk and maximize regional market capture. Foreign healthcare companies, technology providers, and institutional investors are invited to establish manufacturing facilities in Tanzania to scale pharmaceutical production across the African continent.
