On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Management team of the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), I would like to thank all our esteemed EPZ and SEZ investors for choosing to invest in our Zones.

I am delighted to welcome prospective investors to participate in the development and operation of Special Economic Zones in Tanzania. EPZA first opened its doors to investors in 2007; at that time we managed to attract investment of barely US$ 88 million.

Today, we are pleased to report an exponential growth on the total capital investment by both EPZ and SEZ projects which had hit US$ 2.6 Billion by early 2019. In addition, the Total Export Revenue realized under the same period was US$ 1.3 Billion and more than 50,000 direct jobs have been created during the same year.

The ongoing production capacity expansion of our existing clients is a clear manifestation of strong business confidence in the medium to long term outlook of the investment climate and structural transformation of the economy in Tanzania which will be spearheaded by industrialization.

All this achievements was possible not because we were smart enough, no. It is because of a combined effort and commitment of our valued investors and, sincerely, this includes our very own local investors who grew to record 41% of the total investments.

EPZA formally began operating in 2007 with a few single factory EPZ units. The experience of the factory units convinced the Government of Tanzania, through EPZA, to construct the first state-owned industrial park at Mabibo-External in Dar es Salaam. The Industrial Park was named after the 3^rd Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa, therefore Benjamin William Mkapa Special Economic Zone (BWM-SEZ). The Zone is occupied by different industries manufacture a range of products across sectors such as garments, agro-processing, engineering, and high-tech. This is good news for the economy.

We have also started to develop Mega Zones in four regions of Bagamoyo, Mtwara, Dar es Salaam (Kurasini) and Kigoma. Bagamoyo SEZ (BSEZ) will be built on an area of 9,000 Ha.

Currently, this is the priority project which has reached a very good development stage. It is expected to be our flagship project.

The interlinked development model of SEZ which incorporates transport and logistics clusters will be applied in the development of Special Economic Zones in Mtwara, Tanga, Mwanza, and Kigoma, with the overall objective to provide value chain and trade linkages to regional and international markets.

All the accomplishments we experience today are the outcomes of implementing a well thought and well-packaged investment promotion program through EPZ and SEZ schemes together with facilitative administrative support measures which are underpinned by the Special Economic Zones legal and regulatory regime.

The overall industrial development strategy of Tanzania seeks to leverage the natural advantage of being a maritime nation, with a strategic geo-location of being the natural international trade gateway for more than six hinterland countries.

In that regard, Tanzania is the bridge economy that geographically links the Eastern and Southern Africa regional markets (EAC & SADC respectively); as well as the inland transport and logistics corridor for COMESA Member Countries to be able to realize the long term continent-wide aspiration of Africa to promote trade integration development that will provide seamless market connectivity “from Cape to Cairo”.

The transport systems within the country are being improved with the fast speed Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train being constructed; roads, air and water transport also available. We have gas, oil is being explored, all types of minerals and also wildlife.

With these remarks, I wholeheartedly invite all potential investors to explore abundant investment opportunities in our country and become a part of Tanzania’s EPZ and SEZ schemes.

We shall always be ready to be of your good help and guide,

Charles Jackson Itembe.