THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is set to conduct a technical inspection of the Morogoro–Dodoma and Kibiti–Lindi highways, extensively damaged from recent flooding.

Youichi Mikami, the country’s resident envoy, will be part of the inspection team, with the tour coming as a response to a request by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo yesterday.

The Japanese premier acknowledged the importance of the request, assuring the visiting head of government business in the legislature that a thorough assessment will be conducted starting with site visits.

Based on the findings, a comprehensive report will be submitted to the Japanese government to show potential areas of collaboration in rehabilitating affected infrastructure, he said.

“Japan values its longstanding friendship with Tanzania, and we remain committed to supporting infrastructure and social development, especially as the country's population and economic needs continue to grow,” he said.

The inspection exercise is key to identifying the best avenues for technical and financial support, he said, to which the visiting premier emphasized the strategic importance of road infrastructure.

It is essential to connecting Tanzania’s economic zones, improving trade and supporting communities affected by natural disasters, he said, affirming that JICA’s partnership has been instrumental in the implementation of key development projects across the country.

“We believe that strengthening this collaboration—particularly in road rehabilitation—will help address the pressing challenges facing our transportation network,” he stated.

Beyond infrastructure, the Tanzanian delegation also explored economic cooperation, with the premier holding talks with Masamichi Terabatake, the Japan Tobacco Inc. (JTI) president and CEO, along with board chairman Mutsuo Iwai.

He appealed to the company to expand its operations by establishing a tobacco processing plant in Tabora, due to its high tobacco yields. “Tobacco is a critical cash crop for Tanzania,” he said, noting that establishing a processing plant will not only improve value addition and create jobs, but significantly lower transport and logistics costs for farmers and businesses.

David Silinde, the Agriculture deputy minister, highlighted Tanzania’s ranking as the second-largest tobacco producer in Africa, with JTI accounting for about 25 percent of its tobacco purchases.

The JTI CEO reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to Tanzania, underlining intentions to purchase 33m kilograms of tobacco in 2025, valued at $190m, an increase from the 30m kilograms fetching $165m bought in 2024.

He pointed at JTI plans to invest $1.5m in social development projects from 2026 to 2028,focusing on healthcare, clean water, education, economic empowerment, and support for vulnerable populations.

“The meetings underscore Japan’s multifaceted approach to supporting Tanzania’s growth ranging from infrastructure development to economic investment and community support while strengthening the robust bilateral relationship between the two nations,” he added.