Tanzania Positions Itself as Africa's Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Hub, Invites Chinese Investors.
The Government of Tanzania has reaffirmed its commitment to building a strong pharmaceutical manufacturing sector and positioning the country as a hub for medicine production for the East African region and beyond in Africa, while continuing to attract strategic investment from China.
Speaking today, July 7, 2026, during a meeting with leaders of Jointown Pharmaceutical Group from China, a leading private pharmaceutical manufacturing company, the Minister for Health, Hon. Mohamed Mchengerwa, said Tanzania has positioned itself to develop the Mloganzila Special Economic Zone for Pharmaceuticals and Medical Equipment, which will serve as a hub for investment in the manufacturing of medicines, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and medical devices.
He said the area has been equipped with modern infrastructure and is conveniently connected to the Port of Dar es Salaam as well as Julius Nyerere International Airport.
Minister Mchengerwa noted that the Government is ready to collaborate with Jointown in establishing the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, a step that would increase Tanzania's capacity to become self-sufficient in essential medicines and enable it to serve regional markets.
"The collaboration between Jointown and the Medical Stores Department (MSD) is expected to bring transformation to the country's supply, storage, and distribution systems for medicines, through the application of technology and the experience of this major Chinese company in managing global supply chains," said Hon. Mchengerwa.
Furthermore, Hon. Mchengerwa confirmed that the Government, led by the President of Tanzania, Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, is closely monitoring pharmaceutical investment in the country, and pledged Government collaboration with investors who will contribute to the development of the health sector.
Demonstrating the Government's readiness, Minister Mchengerwa said Tanzania is prepared to allocate sufficient land for investment in the production of pharmaceutical raw materials, explaining that this step is part of a genuine commitment to accelerate the establishment of modern factories that will produce medicines for domestic use and for the African market.
During his visit, Minister Mchengerwa was accompanied by the Deputy Permanent Secretary responsible for Medicines and Medical Equipment, Emmanuel Tayari, the Director General of MSD, Mavere Tukai, the Director General of the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA), Prof. Adam Fimbo, along with other officials from the Ministry of Health and institutions within the country's health commodities supply chain.
