Accra: Tanzania’s export earnings surged by 40 per cent in 2024 to reach 3.94 billion US dollars from African markets alone as the government intensified efforts to secure reliable markets for locally produced goods and unlock thousands of new jobs for young people. Speaking to the media this week, Minister for Industry and Trade Judith Kapinga said the strong performance reflects the growing impact of regional and global market access on Tanzania’s industrial and commercial sectors, saying that assured markets remain central to sustaining production and expanding trade.
According to Nam News Network, Kapinga highlighted that intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has been a major driver of the export surge. The growth was driven by increased exports of agricultural and industrial products, including coffee, tobacco, glass products, cereals, spices, and sisal fibres. Kapinga emphasized that AfCFTA has opened new markets for Tanzanian products in countries such as Nigeria,
Morocco, Senegal, Ethiopia, Ghana, Algeria, Djibouti, and Guinea, creating fresh opportunities for exporters across multiple sectors.
On this basis, Kapinga encouraged Tanzanians, especially young people, to establish export-oriented businesses in agriculture, value addition, spices, food processing, clothing, and industrial products. The government has prepared and launched a National Strategy for the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area to ensure citizens are well-positioned to benefit from the continental market and maximize gains for the national economy.
Beyond Africa, Tanzania continues to strengthen its presence in the European market. Exports to the European Union rose from 633.5 million US dollars in 2023 to 686.3 million US dollars in 2024, representing a 7.6 per cent increase. The rise was largely driven by higher exports of avocados, cocoa, coffee, tobacco, and minerals. In Asia, Tanzania earned 2.84 billion US dollars from exports in 2024, compared to 2.92 billion US dollar
s in 2023, with key products including cashew nuts, pulses, avocados, cotton, groundnuts, and goat meat.
Kapinga noted that the availability of these markets provides a solid foundation for expanding export volumes and diversifying Tanzania’s trade portfolio. The government is in the final stages of preparing a National Export Strategy that will place young people at the center of its implementation. Kapinga stressed the need for addressing structural challenges, particularly the formalization of businesses and improving digital systems to support investors and entrepreneurs.
The government has made progress in simplifying business registration and licensing procedures, with regulatory institutions being reoriented to facilitate rather than enforce. Business registration and licensing services are now offered online through electronic platforms such as the Online Registration System (ORS), the Tanzania National Business Portal (TNBP), and the Beneficial Ownership Portal (BO). These systems have improved ser
vice delivery by making processes faster and more accessible.
Kapinga also mentioned that the ORS has been integrated with 29 government and private institutions, enabling seamless access to information required at various stages. To further strengthen service delivery, the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) established a Customer Service Call Centre, receiving between 300 and 500 calls daily, enhancing communication with customers and improving challenge resolution speed.