The Tanzanian government has outlined four priority sectors for Omani investors as part of efforts to strengthen industrial development, enhance local production, and reduce reliance on imports.
The sectors identified include wheat and edible oil production, textile manufacturing, cold chain infrastructure, and seed production, according to Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary Gerald Mweli, who spoke at a business meeting between the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) and a 17-member delegation from Oman.
“Oman currently imports wheat and some products from countries like Russia. We encourage them to consider Tanzania as a strategic and cost-effective investment destination,” Mweli said.
Textile Industry Potential
Highlighting the textile sector, Mweli noted that despite being one of Africa’s leading cotton producers, Tanzania exports around 80% of its raw cotton unprocessed, leaving domestic textile demand dependent on imports. “By establishing textile factories, investors from Oman can help close this gap, boost youth employment, and reduce the country’s dependence on fabric imports,” he said.
Growing Bilateral Trade
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, bilateral trade between Tanzania and Oman has seen strong growth, with Tanzanian exports rising from US $4.8 million in 2017 to US $16.5 million in 2024. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows total trade volume increased from US $18 million in 2017 to US $245.8 million last year.
Shared Economic Vision
Dr. Salim Bin Al Janaibu, Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), emphasized the alignment between the two nations’ economic strategies, which focus on food security, energy diversification, and logistics development.
“We are optimistic that this meeting will move beyond dialogue to the signing of agreements that lead to real investments, benefiting both economies,” Dr. Al Janaibu said.
