THE government has announced plans to establish 9,048 new factories across the country by 2030, a move expected to create more than 6.5 million jobs, as part of pushing industrialisation agenda.

Minister for Industry and Trade, Dr. Selemani Jafo, made the announcement last weekend while officiating at the Fourth General Meeting of the Tanzania Association of Women Trade Officers (TAWTO), held in Tanga Region.

He said the industrial development drive is part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen the national economy by boosting technology, production, and employment opportunities.

Dr. Jafo emphasized that the government is committed to creating an enabling environment for investors and scaling up industrial production.

“The government has laid out clear strategies to improve investment conditions and promote the establishment of new factories in different parts of the country, with the aim of generating more jobs and driving economic growth,” he said.

The minister further noted that the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in collaboration with the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), is addressing challenges faced by trade officers, including the shortage of working tools.

He underscored the critical role of trade officers in national development agenda, as stipulated by the 2025 and 2050 national vision agendas.

“We must accord trade officers the recognition they deserve. They are not a ‘spare tyre’ but an integral part of our economic growth,” Dr. Jafo stressed.

On her part, Tanga Regional Commissioner Dr. Batilda Burian said despite past economic challenges that forced the closure of several industries in the region, ongoing revival efforts are beginning to bear fruit.

She revealed that Tanga is preparing to establish new factories, including ambulance assembly plants and fish processing industries.

Meanwhile, TAWTO Chairperson Elizabeth Swagi pledged that the association will continue empowering small-scale entrepreneurs through education on business laws, guidelines, and procedures to enhance their participation in the national economy.

On February 28, 2025, while addressing a public rally at Mkwakwani Stadium during his six-day tour of Tanga Region, President Samia Suluhu Hassan emphasized her commitment to reviving the region’s industrial sector.

Building on that directive, on August 4, Tanga Regional Commissioner, Ambassador Dr. Batilda Burian, toured several factories in the region. The visits included Africa Harmony Industry Limited, which is set to resume production of the Foma detergent brand; Anjari Beverages; Tanga Cable Industries; Asher’s Cosmetics; and Tanga Cement, producers of the Simba Cement brand.

Hatim Anjari, Director of Anjari Beverages, said that improved investment conditions, particularly the availability of reliable electricity, following President Samia’s industrialization drive, have created an enabling environment for business growth and capital expansion.

Echoing similar optimism, Moiz Dossaj, Managing Director of Tanga Cable Industries, noted that increased market demand—fueled by the government’s directive for local procurement in national projects such as REA—has spurred plans to acquire new production machinery, expand output, and create more jobs.

For Asher’s Cosmetics, Managing Director Jayesh Asher reported that a favorable investment climate has boosted production capacity, enabling the company to penetrate regional markets in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Meanwhile, Africa Harmony Industry Limited’s Human Resource Officer, Ahmed Mustapha, confirmed that production at the factory will officially commence in October this year.

Regional Commissioner Dr. Burian underscored that her tour aimed to engage with factory owners directly, understand the challenges they face, and ensure timely government intervention to safeguard industrial growth in Tanga.