Tanzania's Pharmaceutical Investment Acceleration Taskforce Arrives at CPHI China in Shanghai, Inviting Global Manufacturers to Africa's Emerging Production Hub

Shanghai, 15 June 2026 — A delegation from Tanzania's Pharmaceutical Investment Acceleration Taskforce (PIAT), the Government's whole-of-government mechanism for fast-tracking strategic pharmaceutical investment, has arrived in Shanghai for CPHI China 2026, held at the Shanghai New International Expo Center from 16 to 18 June. The delegation will engage directly with international manufacturers, active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) producers, and contract manufacturing organisations to present Tanzania's case as Africa's next pharmaceutical manufacturing hub.

CPHI China is Asia's leading pharmaceutical trade event, convening suppliers and buyers across the entire supply chain — making it a natural venue for Tanzania's outreach to the manufacturers best positioned to establish production capacity on the continent.

Tanzania arrives with a quantified opportunity. Pharmaceutical demand is projected to expand 4.6 times over the next 15 years — from approximately 131 million packs in FY2024/25 to over 600 million by FY2039/40 — driven primarily by the rollout of Universal Health Insurance, which is scaling coverage from roughly 8 percent toward 62 percent within five years.

"Tanzania is ready to become Africa's pharmaceutical manufacturing hub. The direction is clear. The commitment is firm. The time is now," said Hon. Mohamed Omary Mchengerwa (MP), Minister for Health, setting out the Government's strategic direction.

At CPHI China, the PIAT delegation will highlight Tanzania's distinctive offer to manufacturers:

Regulatory maturity — the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) is the first African national regulator to achieve WHO Maturity Level 3, with registration timelines for domestic products reduced to 60 days. Structured market assurance — the Medical Stores Department (MSD) procures roughly USD 491 million in health products annually across 8,800+ facilities, extends a 15 percent price preference to local manufacturers, and offers multi-year framework agreements. Purpose-built manufacturing clusters — pharmaceutical hub clusters at Mloganzila and Kibaha, supported by a USD 10 million government-backed shared quality-testing and bioequivalence laboratory. A Green-Lane fast-track — PIAT processes licensing, land, regulation, taxation, and product registration concurrently rather than sequentially, with time-bound decisions. The delegation is particularly focused on engaging partners in API and excipient production — a category with zero existing capacity across the entire East African Community — alongside vaccines and biologics, small-volume parenterals, and WHO-GMP-compliant essential medicines.

PIAT will also underscore Tanzania's role as a regional gateway. As a dual member of the East African Community and SADC, products manufactured in Tanzania gain tariff-preferential access to a combined market exceeding 780 million people, with continental reach expanding under the African Medicines Agency treaty.

"No investor will be asked to build factories in Tanzania only to be frustrated by unfair imports. That era is over," Minister Mchengerwa stated at the January forum, referencing the Government's commitment to protect compliant local manufacturers through procurement, tariff, and regulatory instruments.

PIAT invites qualified manufacturers to meet the delegation in Shanghai and to submit Expressions of Interest for specific investment proposals.

Investor engagement: PIAT Secretariat, Ministry of Health — [email protected]