The Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) has encouraged investors to explore the vast investment opportunities available in Rungwe District, Mbeya Region, particularly in agro-processing industries that can add value to the district’s abundant agricultural produce.
Speaking in Rungwe, TISEZA Southern Highlands Zone Manager, Fidelis Obanga, said the authority has launched awareness initiatives targeting investors engaged in production and export activities, encouraging them to formally register and benefit from the incentives offered by the Government.
Supporting Private Sector-Led Economic Growth
According to Obanga, the initiative aims to enable investors to access a wide range of investment services while strengthening the role of the private sector in driving economic growth. He noted that under Tanzania’s National Development Vision 2050, the private sector is expected to serve as a key engine of economic transformation and sustainable development.
Strong Potential for Value Addition
Obanga highlighted Rungwe as one of Tanzania’s most promising investment destinations due to its high production of both cash and food crops. He identified avocados, cocoa, tea, bananas, and ginger as key commodities with significant potential for value addition through processing industries.
Local Government Allocates Land for Investment
Rungwe District Council’s Head of Agriculture and Fisheries Department, Adam Salumu, noted that despite being among the country’s leading avocado-producing districts, Rungwe still faces a shortage of processing facilities for avocados and other agricultural products.
He stated that the district government has already set aside land for investment projects and continues to welcome investors interested in establishing agro-processing industries that will enhance product value, create employment opportunities, and improve farmers’ incomes.
Kuza African Expands Market Access for Farmers
Meanwhile, Noel Kabuje, Manager of Kuza African Limited, said the company has continued to provide a reliable market for avocado farmers by purchasing their produce and contributing to local economic development.
Kabuje revealed that in 2025 the company purchased avocados worth more than TZS 9.8 billion from local farmers. For 2026, the company expects to spend over TZS 10 billion on avocado procurement, further strengthening the district’s agricultural value chain.
“Rungwe presents significant opportunities for agro-industrial investment. Increased investment in processing facilities will not only add value to agricultural products but also enhance export competitiveness, create jobs, and improve livelihoods across the region.”
Rungwe District is emerging as one of Tanzania’s most attractive destinations for agro-processing investment, supported by abundant agricultural production, expanding export markets, and a government committed to creating an enabling investment environment. With TISEZA offering investment facilitation and incentives, readily available land for industrial development, and growing private sector participation, investors have a unique opportunity to establish value-added processing industries in one of the country’s most productive agricultural regions. Investing in Rungwe not only promises strong commercial potential but also contributes to job creation, increased farmer incomes, enhanced export competitiveness, and Tanzania’s broader industrialization agenda.
