Tanzania’s Kwala industrial park to create over 300,000 jobs, says Jafo

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s Minister for Industry and Trade, Dr Selemani Jafo, said the newly launched Kwala Industrial Park is expected to transform the country’s manufacturing landscape, attract billions in foreign investment and create over 300,000 jobs.

Speaking on Thursday, July 31, 2025 during the official launch of the port by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Dr Jafo said the government envisions the park as a strategic driver for industrialisation under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s economic transformation agenda.

The industrial park, covering more than 1,000 hectares adjacent to the newly operational Kwala Inland Dry Port, will host over 200 factories once fully developed. According to the minister, the total investment is projected to exceed $3 billion.

“This park will produce goods valued at over $6 billion annually, with $2 billion destined for export and $4 billion for domestic consumption. It will create 50,000 direct jobs and 250,000 indirect jobs, contributing significantly to youth employment and national development,” said Minister Jafo.

He added: “The President’s vision to generate jobs for youth is something we are determined to implement vigorously. We are seeing rapid growth in the industrial sector due to bold reforms. In 2021, Tanzania had 52,128 registered industries. Today, we have reached 80,000, an outstanding performance in such a short time.”

He shared that, with this momentum, the country would soon be able to locally manufacture products it previously depended on imports for, thereby reducing foreign dependency.

“The expansion of the manufacturing sector will absorb thousands of graduates who enter the job market each year. In 2021, Tanzania produced 51,800 graduates annually. Today that number stands at 67,000. The public sector cannot employ them all, the private sector, particularly manufacturing, is the gateway,” he said.

Minister Jafo emphasised that his ministry is working to boost exports while reducing unnecessary imports in line with Tanzania’s long-term economic strategies.

“In our vision for 2050, industrialisation is a core priority. The ministry is fully committed to driving this agenda,” he said.

The Kwala Industrial Park is strategically located near major road and rail infrastructure, including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the Morogoro highway, and is expected to complement operations at the Kwala Inland Dry Port.

The combined infrastructure is set to position Tanzania as a leading logistics and manufacturing hub in East and Central Africa.