Tanzania is looking to deepen its economic partnership with Dangote Group as the government seeks new investments in fertiliser production, energy and industrial infrastructure to drive long-term development and create greater economic opportunities for its people.
The Minister of State in the President’s Office responsible for Planning and Investment, Hon. Prof. Kitila A. Mkumbo, made this known during a visit by a Tanzanian delegation to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals in Lagos, Nigeria.
Mkumbo said the visit was part of efforts to follow up on earlier discussions between President Samia Suluhu Hassan and President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, on expanding Dangote Group’s investment footprint in Tanzania.
He noted that Dangote already has a major presence in the country through Tanzania’s largest cement manufacturing plant, an investment valued at approximately $800 million.
According to the Minister, Tanzania is particularly interested in Dangote Group’s experience in fertiliser production and refinery operations, as the country seeks to strengthen its industrial capacity and reduce dependence on external sources.
“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.
He said greater cooperation with Dangote Group would not only benefit Tanzania but also contribute to wider economic integration across Africa through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Mkumbo stressed that while African countries have maintained strong political relationships for decades, the continent must now focus more strongly on economic integration and industrialization.
“Africa now needs economic liberation, and that can only come through industrialization,” he said.
The Minister 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 looks forward to working with Dangote Group to advance Pan-African industrialization, expand regional manufacturing capacity and create new opportunities for economic growth.
Mkumbo also pointed to the importance of local refining capacity in strengthening Africa’s energy security, particularly amid disruptions in global oil markets.
He cited the impact of tensions around the Strait of Hormuz on global fuel prices, stressing that increased refining capacity from facilities such as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery could help African economies withstand external shocks.
According to him, affordable and reliable energy is essential to economic development, while expanded refining capacity across Africa could help lower energy costs and improve living standards for millions of people.
The visit is part of ongoing engagements between the Government of Tanzania and Dangote Group to explore new opportunities in strategic investment, industrial development and regional economic integration.
The proposed expansion of Dangote’s investments therefore reflects a broader African ambition: using industrialization, local production and stronger economic cooperation to build a more self-reliant and prosperous continent.
