TISEZA

The Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) is the Government of Tanzania’s central institution for promoting, coordinating, and facilitating investment, as well as developing and regulating Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

TISEZA was established in 2025 under the Investment and Special Economic Zones Act No. 6 of 2025, following the merger of the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) and the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA).

It replaces the Tanzania Investment Act, 2022, the Export Processing Zones Act, 2002, and the Special Economic Zones Act, 2006, bringing all investment-related functions under one streamlined authority.

Mandate and Functions

TISEZA is mandated to improve the investment environment by simplifying procedures, reducing bureaucracy, and supporting investors throughout the entire investment lifecycle. Its main functions include:

-One-Stop Facilitation Centre: A single point of contact for investors to access government services such as permits, licenses, tax registration, immigration, land acquisition, and utilities.

-Investment Promotion: Actively promoting Tanzania as a competitive destination for domestic and foreign investment across key sectors.

-Special Economic Zones Development: Planning, designating, and managing SEZs, including Export Processing Zones (EPZs), to attract strategic industries and boost exports.

-Investor Facilitation and Aftercare: Providing ongoing support to investors before, during, and after project implementation, including regulatory assistance and dispute resolution.

-Land Bank Management: Managing a national land bank that catalogs public and private land designated for investment, simplifying land access and acquisition.

-Investor Registration: Under the 2025 Act, all investors must register with TISEZA, regardless of whether they apply for incentives. This enables the authority to provide uniform support and oversight across all investments.

-Information and Guidance: Offering comprehensive information on investment opportunities, procedures, incentives, and policy frameworks.

-Digital Services: TISEZA is rolling out a fully integrated online platform to digitize all government investment-related services, enhancing speed, transparency, and accountability.

Strategic Role

TISEZA is a core part of Tanzania’s economic transformation agenda. By centralizing investment promotion and SEZ management, the government aims to:

-Increase foreign and domestic direct investment

-Accelerate industrialization

-Improve the ease of doing business

-Create jobs and expand exports

-Maximize the use of local resources and inputs

-Strengthen Tanzania’s position as a regional economic hub

Priority Sectors

TISEZA prioritizes investments that align with Tanzania’s industrialization strategy, with a strong emphasis on local value addition and raw material use. Target sectors include:

-Agro-processing (cashew, sugarcane, edible oils, cotton, fruits, and vegetables)

-Livestock and fisheries value chains

-Mining and mineral processing

-Pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing

-Wood processing and furniture production

-Light manufacturing and import substitution industries

Incentives and Approvals

Investors registered with TISEZA may qualify for fiscal and non-fiscal incentives as stipulated under the Investment and Special Economic Zones Act, including:

-Tax holidays and duty exemptions

-Land derivative rights

-Simplified immigration and work permits

-SEZ-specific advantages such as customs-free zones and expedited logistics

-Access to infrastructure and utilities within designated zones

TISEZA issues both Certificates of Incentives for general investment and SEZ Licenses for zone-based operations.

One-Stop Centre Services

TISEZA integrates services from multiple government institutions, including:

-Ministry of Lands

-Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA)

-Immigration Department

-Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA)

-National Environment Management Council (NEMC)

-Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS)

-Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA)

-National Identification Authority (NIDA)

-Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA)

-Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO)

This structure enables centralized processing, eliminates duplication, and reduces administrative delays.

Management & Contacts

On 1 July 2025, President Samia Suluhu Hassan appointed Gilead Teri, former Executive Director of TIC, as the first Director General of TISEZA.

The authority operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Contacts
Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA)
Golden Jubilee Tower, 1st Floor
Ohio Street, P.O. Box 938
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Email: info@tiseza.go.tz
Web: www.tiseza.go.tz
Phone: +255 734 989 469 / +255 734 989 470