The Tanzanian government is seeking to deepen its economic partnership with Dangote Group by attracting fresh investments from the Nigerian conglomerate in fertiliser production, energy and industrial infrastructure.
The Minister of State in the President’s Office responsible for Planning and Investment, Prof. Kitila A. Mkumbo, disclosed this when a Tanzanian delegation visited the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals in Lagos.
Mkumbo said the visit was part of efforts to follow up on discussions earlier held between Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, on expanding the group’s investment portfolio in Tanzania.
According to him, the Tanzanian government is particularly interested in leveraging Dangote Group’s experience in fertiliser production and refinery operations as the country seeks to accelerate industrialisation and strengthen its productive capacity.
“We have come here to make a follow-up on what they deliberated with our President in terms of further Dangote investments in Tanzania,” Mkumbo said.
Dangote Group already has a major presence in Tanzania through its cement manufacturing operations. The company’s cement plant in the country represents an investment of about $800 million and is regarded as one of the largest industrial investments by the group in Tanzania.
Mkumbo said the existing investment had demonstrated the potential of deeper collaboration between Tanzania and Dangote Group, adding that the government was keen to attract additional investments that could support employment, manufacturing and broader economic growth.
He described Dangote’s growing investments across Africa as an important contribution to the continent’s industrial transformation, arguing that Africa must move beyond its traditional political relationships and place greater emphasis on economic integration.
“Africa now needs economic liberation, and that can only come through industrialisation,” he said.
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The minister said closer cooperation with Dangote Group would also complement the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by strengthening manufacturing capacity and facilitating greater intra-African trade.
He noted that industrial investments capable of producing goods within the continent would reduce Africa’s dependence on imports, create jobs and strengthen regional supply chains.
Mkumbo described Dangote as one of Africa’s leading industrialists, noting that the group’s investments are increasingly extending beyond Nigeria and contributing to industrial development in other African countries.
He said Tanzania was prepared to work with Dangote Group in identifying additional areas of investment that could contribute to the country’s development objectives while advancing the broader goal of Pan-African industrialisation.
The minister also stressed the importance of expanding refining capacity within Africa as a means of improving the continent’s energy security.
He cited recent disruptions in global oil markets and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz as evidence of the vulnerability of countries that depend heavily on imported refined petroleum products.
According to him, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery provides an example of how large-scale local refining capacity can help African economies reduce their exposure to external energy shocks.
Mkumbo said increased refining capacity across the continent would help improve the availability and affordability of petroleum products while supporting industrial and economic activity.
He described reliable and affordable energy as a critical foundation for economic development, noting that lower energy costs would ultimately improve living standards and strengthen the competitiveness of African businesses.
The Tanzanian delegation’s visit to the Dangote refinery is part of continuing engagements between the Tanzanian government and Dangote Group as both sides explore opportunities for expanded investment and industrial cooperation.
The proposed collaboration in fertiliser, energy and infrastructure is expected to further strengthen economic ties between Tanzania and Nigeria while contributing to efforts to deepen regional industrialisation and economic integration across Africa.