Tanzania set for industrial production enumeration

Dodoma. The government has announced that it will conduct an industrial production census from March to June 2025, marking the first time the exercise will take place simultaneously in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

The census, which was last conducted 12 years ago, aims to collect data in four key areas: clean water distribution, waste collection systems, waste management, and recycling activities. Other sectors to be covered include manufacturing, mining and quarrying, electricity and gas production, and temperature regulation services.

Speaking at the announcement, Industry and Trade minister Selemani Jafo said the census will collect data from industries categorised into two main groups: those employing 10 or more workers and those with between one and nine employees.

He noted that some economic activities within small-scale industries will be sampled due to the high number of similar businesses.

“The data collection process will be conducted electronically, with enumerators using tablets to input responses, similar to the system used in the 2022 Population and Housing Census,” Dr Jafo said.

He further highlighted the sector’s growth, revealing that in 2023, the industrial production sector registered 208 projects valued at $16.89 billion, creating 26,563 jobs.

He urged industry owners to cooperate with data collectors, assuring them that the information gathered will be used strictly in accordance with the Statistics Act.

Chief government statistician and director general of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr Albina Chuwa, confirmed that the census will commence in March and conclude in June 2025.

“As we collect data, it will be stored in our central server and analysed in collaboration with the Minister for Industry and Trade. We expect to release the findings by June 2025 for policy and economic planning purposes,” Dr Chuwa said.

According to the 2013 census, Tanzania had 49,243 industries, classified into four main categories based on the 2003 Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Policy.

These included 41,919 micro-industries, 6,907 small-scale industries, 170 medium-sized industries, and 247 large-scale industries.

The upcoming census is expected to provide updated data to inform policy formulation, industrial investment, and economic development strategies.