AfDB and ITFC Partner to Boost Tanzania’s Investment Potential
The African Development Bank Group’s Tanzania Office and the Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) have pledged to strengthen private sector development as a driver of sustainable economic growth and long-term competitiveness in Tanzania. The commitment was made during a meeting held on 29 September 2025.
The ITFC delegation, led by Said Ibouroi, Senior Manager and Regional Head for East Africa and Latin America, met with Patricia Laverley, AfDB Country Manager for Tanzania, to discuss areas of strategic collaboration and investment opportunities.
ITFC presented its strategic portfolio, centred on three key pillars: enhancing SMEs’ access to finance, strengthening food security through agricultural investments, and sustaining energy security. These priorities align with Tanzania’s development agenda and the Bank Group’s Tanzania Country Strategy Paper 2021–2025, which emphasises improving the private sector business environment to create jobs.
The discussions also aligned with the “Four Cardinal Points” of AfDB President Dr Sidi Ould Tah, including unlocking Africa’s capital through mobilisation and blended financing, and rebuilding financial sovereignty via innovative partnerships that enhance the continent’s financial autonomy.
Speaking on the engagement, Mr Ibouroi said, “Tanzania is steadily expanding its international trade while holding untapped potential. Opportunities in key sectors such as agriculture, petroleum, and gas provide a platform to empower SMEs and the private sector, unlocking value chains that drive economic resilience and regional integration.”
Ms Laverley added, “This engagement marks a promising step towards deeper collaboration with ITFC, a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group, and underscores our shared vision of positioning Tanzania as a dynamic hub for investment and private sector advancement.”
Both parties agreed that the meeting highlighted strong potential for impactful cooperation and signalled the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at boosting investment and private sector growth in Tanzania.
