Six industrial projects enter construction phase in Bagamoyo, says minister

Six of 26 investment projects planned for the Bagamoyo Special Eco-Maritime City have entered the construction phase, with the government projecting more than 15,000 jobs from the developments. Minister of State in the President’s Office (Planning and Investment), Prof Kitila Mkumbo, said on Saturday October 03, 2026 that the progress marked a shift from investment plans to actual industrial activity. He said the projects had a combined investment value of about Sh4 trillion and that the wider development of the area could eventually create nearly 100,000 jobs. “For Tanzanians, the main meaning is jobs. We are talking about more than 15,000 jobs from these factories,” he said during a visit to inspect projects in the area. Prof Mkumbo said the government’s plan went beyond factories, describing Bagamoyo as an Eco-Maritime City that would combine industrial production with the blue economy. The plan includes a new port, industrial facilities, housing, hotels and financial services, alongside improved transport infrastructure. The government also plans to construct a railway linking Bagamoyo with Kwala and improve roads serving the area, he said. “We expect to use Bagamoyo to allow Dar es Salaam to breathe. This is going to be a new city,” Prof Mkumbo said. He said feasibility studies were also under way for a technology park focusing on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning. Training institutions would be linked with industries to prepare young Tanzanians for employment through practical training, internships and apprenticeships, he said. One of the projects visited was Sinovest, a textile investment expected to create more than 10,000 jobs at full production. The company plans to export 80 percent of its products to Europe, the Middle East and the United States, while 20 percent will target the domestic market. Prof Mkumbo also urged investors to support surrounding communities through initiatives such as schools and health facilities. He said the developments formed part of Tanzania Development Vision 2050, which targets a $1 trillion economy by 2050. Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (Tiseza) director general Gilead Teri said the zone had made progress since Prof Mkumbo launched the first phase of industrial construction in December 2025. “Today, there are 25 industries, with about $1.5 billion already invested and more than 15,600 jobs expected to be created in this area,” he said. Mr Teri said investors from Tanzania, the East African Community, the Southern African Development Community and other regions were participating in the development. “We believe this is a good phase that has started, and from here we expect faster growth of industries in this area,” he said.