By Saidina Msangi and Joseph Mahumi, Dodoma
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the country’s industrial base after the Minister for Finance, Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar, held high-level talks with the management of Twiga Cement, one of the country’s leading cement manufacturers.
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Finance headquarters at Treasury Square in Dodoma, brought together senior government officials and Twiga Cement executives led by the company’s General Manager, Mr. Alfonso Velez.
Discussions focused on the continued development and expansion of Twiga Cement’s investment in Tanzania, against the backdrop of rising demand for construction materials driven by infrastructure spending, urbanisation and industrial growth.
Ambassador Omar assured the company’s leadership that the government would continue to improve the investment climate, particularly for strategic industries such as cement, which play a critical role in supporting large-scale infrastructure, housing and industrial projects.
“The government recognises the importance of manufacturing in driving economic growth, job creation and value addition,” the minister said, noting that ongoing reforms are aimed at making Tanzania a more competitive and predictable destination for long-term industrial investment.
Twiga Cement, formally known as Tanzania Portland Cement Company (TPCC), is a key player in the local construction ecosystem. The company has historically supplied cement to major national projects, including ports, roads, bridges and energy infrastructure, making it closely tied to the country’s broader development agenda.
For his part, Mr Velez said the company remains committed to expanding its footprint in Tanzania to meet growing market demand while creating more employment opportunities for Tanzanians.
“Our objective is to continue scaling up investment to serve the domestic market efficiently, improve operational capacity and contribute to national development through jobs and reliable supply of quality cement,” he said.
The engagement comes at a time when Tanzania is pushing ahead with ambitious infrastructure and industrialisation plans under its long-term development frameworks, including the Five-Year Development Plan and Dira 2050.
These plans envisage expanded industrial zones, special economic zones, large-scale housing programmes and continued public investment in transport and energy – all of which are expected to drive sustained demand for cement and other building materials.
Industry analysts say the cement sector remains a bellwether for economic activity, with performance closely linked to construction trends and public investment. Tanzania’s cement market has grown steadily over the past decade, supported by population growth, urban expansion and regional export opportunities within East and Southern Africa.
The meeting was also attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), underscoring the government’s interest in aligning fiscal policy, tax administration and industrial growth objectives. Among those present were the Acting Commissioner for Policy Analysis at the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Remidius Ruhinduka; Assistant Commissioners William Mhoja and Gabriel Kimweri; TRA Assistant Commissioner Mcha Hassan Mcha; and senior Twiga Cement executives, including board member Mr Raymond Mbilinyi and Finance Director Mr. Simon Renauld. As Tanzania positions itself as a regional manufacturing and logistics hub, sustained engagement between policymakers and anchor investors such as Twiga Cement is expected to be central to unlocking private capital, stabilising supply chains and supporting inclusive economic growth.
