Nine priority sectors to drive Tanzania’s Vision 2050

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s Vision Tanzania’s Vision 2050 has identified nine transformative sectors that are set to accelerate the country’s development over the next 25 years, forming the backbone of its long-term growth strategy.

The ambitious blueprint was tabled in Parliament on Thursday, June 26, 2025, by the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Planning and Investment), Prof Kitila Mkumbo—just a day before President Samia Suluhu Hassan is scheduled to dissolve the 12th Parliament.

Designed to guide the strategic allocation of national resources, Vision 2050 provides a framework for prioritising sectors with the greatest potential to drive inclusive and sustainable transformation and grow the economy to upper-middle income status, with a projected per capita income of at least $4,700, up from the current lower-middle income level.

The nine priority sectors are: agriculture (including fisheries, livestock, and forestry), tourism, industry, construction and real estate, mining, the blue economy, sports and innovation, financial services, and the broader service sector.

The selection was based on each sector’s potential to generate employment, expand exports, stimulate linkages with other industries, add value to products and services, and increase government revenue.

Agriculture—encompassing fisheries, livestock, and forestry—remains a key pillar of the economy, contributing 26.5 percent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employing 65 percent of the workforce, and accounting for 30 percent of export earnings. The sector is regarded as central to job creation and revenue enhancement through agro-processing and value addition.

Its integration with transport, trade, and industry underscores its critical role in economic development.

“In the years ahead, agriculture will continue to be the backbone of Tanzania’s economy. By 2050, it is expected to be more productive, sustainable, and globally competitive,” the Vision states.

Tourism is another high-impact sector, currently accounting for 25 percent of national export earnings. It plays a pivotal role in improving the balance of payments, raising GDP, and generating foreign exchange.

The sector supports a wide array of ancillary industries, including hospitality, transport, and local commerce. The growing number of both domestic and international tourists highlights its potential to drive inclusive and sustainable growth.

“By 2050, tourism is expected to rank among the top sectors for both direct and indirect employment, with notable expansion in hospitality, tour guiding, transport, and community-based enterprises,” the document notes.

The industrial sector is projected to expand significantly and become the cornerstone of Tanzania’s economy by 2050. While agriculture has traditionally occupied this position, Vision 2050 highlights the risks of overdependence on it.

Climate change, commodity price volatility, and global market shocks are cited as key vulnerabilities, underscoring the need for structural transformation. Industry is positioned as a primary driver of long-term resilience and competitiveness.

“Tanzania aims to become a competitive industrial hub by 2050, leveraging population growth, technological advancement, and a strong agricultural base,” the document states.

Construction and real estate are also identified as critical to urban growth, with rising demand for housing, infrastructure, and essential services expected to boost employment and attract investment.

The mining sector remains a strategic contributor to the economy. Tanzania is richly endowed with mineral resources, including gold, diamonds, tanzanite, and strategic minerals such as graphite, lithium, uranium, and rare earth elements.

The blue economy—focused on the sustainable utilisation of ocean and inland water resources—is expected to assume greater prominence in national development.

With an extensive coastline, large lakes, and major rivers, Tanzania holds considerable potential in fisheries, coastal and lake tourism, marine transport, and water-based renewable energy.

Vision 2050 also recognises sports and innovation as underutilised but high-potential drivers of socio-economic advancement.

These sectors offer considerable opportunities for employment, youth empowerment, income generation, and national cohesion.