Newsletters
The National Venture Capital Fund Is the Last Thing that Startups Need in Tanzania
September 10, 2024 Earlier this year (March 2024), news headlines across Tanzania buzzed with the announcement of the next big initiative aimed at rescuing the nation’s struggling startup ecosystem: the National Venture Capital Fund (NVCF). Intrigued but sceptical, I...
Opportunities and Challenges in Project Development with Insights from Mkulazi Farm, Tanzania
August 24, 2024 Africa is widely recognized as the last frontier of emerging markets with its vast resources, youthful population, and significant potential for economic growth. While it presents immense opportunities for investors, project development in Africa is...
The Budget for 2024/2025 in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and DRC and Its Implications on Investment
July 13, 2024 With the release of the 2024/2025 budgets across East African nations, there is much to discuss, especially concerning the potential impact on investment and the socio-political landscape. Let us delve into the financial pathways set by Tanzania, Kenya,...
The US-Africa Business Relationship: Catching Up to China
May 24, 2024 The US-Africa Business Forum 2024, held in Dallas, was a significant event, reflecting the United States' (renewed) interest in strengthening economic ties with Africa. As a participant, I observed firsthand the dynamics at play, particularly how the US...
Celebrating the Successes at Tanzania Investment Center: 1st Quarter Reflections as a Board Member
May 3, 2024 As a crucial quarter marked its close at the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC), my reflections as a board member are filled with pride and optimism. The successes we've achieved resonate well beyond routine milestones, reflecting a profound impact on both...
10 Things To Know When Your Business Partner Files A Criminal Complaint Against You
April 27th, 2024 Business law, partnerships and contracts can be complicated. Conflicts can arise unexpectedly, turning what was once a business and collaborative endeavour into a legal battleground. However, what happens when a disagreement takes a potentially...
The Power of Commitment and client service
April 20th, 2024 If you want a “life on the fast lane”, as one of my favourite group’s the Eagles termed it, the world of international business and law in Africa will deliver. In this world, dedication and commitment are not just virtues but essential pillars that...
China’s Investment in Africa and the Evolving Dynamics Between China and Tanzania
April 7th, 2024 The investment landscape of Africa has increasingly attracted global attention and ascended as a beacon of investment opportunities, with China emerging as a dominant force in shaping the continent's economic destiny as its Belt and Road Initiative...
A Comparative Look at Land Ownership in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda
Shikana Legal Update Date: February 28, 2024 Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda each present unique landscapes and economic frameworks. Among the myriad aspects that differentiate these neighbors are their systems of land...
Bold Moves: Suluhu Hassan and Mwinyi Reshape Tanzanian ANd Zanzibar Politics
Date: February 23, 2024 In the intricate dance of politics, every step taken by leaders sends ripples through the fabric of society, shaping the destiny of nations. This week, Tanzania witnessed bold maneuvers by President Samia Suluhu Hassan and President Mwinyi,...
The Role of Non-Deposit Taking Microfinance Providers in Expanding Access to Credit and The Draft Microfinance (Non-Deposit Taking Microfinance Service Providers) Regulations, 2024 IN TANZANIA
16 Feb 2024 How many of us in Tanzania know “informal” lenders who are lending millions per day to entrepreneurs? I certainly know a number of people in that business informally and they all say one thing – it is very lucrative!...
Tanzania Interest Based Monetary Policy Framework and Implication on FDI
Tanzania Adopts an Interest- based Monetary Policy Framework and Its implication on Foreign Direct Investment in Tanzania 26 January 2024 By Amne Suedi Tanzania’s interest – based monetary policy framework is a move to improve investment climate in Tanzania and to...
Kenya and Tanzania Rivalry
Kenya and Tanzania’s Rivalry For Trade and Foreign Investment Dominance 19 January 2024This week unfolded another economic drama between Kenya and Tanzania and this time it touched the airspace. It started with an announcement from the Tanzania Civil Aviation...
Harmony in Tanzanian Mining Laws: Navigating Local Content Regulations through the Labyrinth of Global Trade
Tanzania has come from far when it relates to trade and investments. In particular, the mining sector has seen a growth in the last years. For more information on the mining sector in Tanzania, download your free ebook here:...
MY VISION OF THE TANZANIA VISION 2050
I am thrilled to share with you some exciting news that has brought a great sense of responsibility and honor to my professional journey. I don’t know about you, but it is not every day that I receive a letter from the President’s Office with the subject line...
Somalia’s Access to the East Africa Community: Advantage or Disadvantage to the Regional Bloc?
Last week at the East African Community Summit meeting in Arusha, the official accession of Somalia to the East Africa Community (EAC) was announced. We knew that Somalia was being considered since 2011 and Member States could not come to an agreement largely because...
The Ultimate Guide to Navigating Cultural Differences in East Africa
Establishing successful business collaborations in East Africa requires more than just a keen eye for investment opportunities. A crucial aspect that often impacts the overall success of joint ventures and partnerships is the management and navigation of cultural...
Building Smart Partnerships in East Africa: A Step-by-Step Guide
The journey towards creating a positive impact in East Africa through smart partnerships begins with understanding the nuances of forging successful relationships between foreign investors and local entrepreneurs. By developing a solid foundation for collaboration,...
President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s Cabinet Reshuffle and Its Impact on Investments in Tanzania
On the 30th of August 2023, President Samia Suluhu Hassan (“Mama Samia”) did what many were speculating she would do for the last year – a major cabinet reshuffle. Since she became President 19 March 2021, Mama Samia has been slowly but surely consolidating her power...
An Overview of Investment Regulations in Kenya and Tanzania: 6 Points to Consider About Investing in Kenya and Tanzania
Investing in emerging markets can present lucrative opportunities, but understanding and navigating the regulatory landscape is essential for success. Doing business in both Kenya and Tanzania, I am often asked which country is better to do business in. Kenya and...
Tanzania Finance Act of 2022: It Could Have Been So Much More…
The Tanzania Finance Act 2022 was assented on June 30, 2022 and has been effective since July 1, 2022. The Finance Act 2022 has been received with the sentiment that more could have been done to improve the business and investment environment namely undoing the many...
Playing our part: defending constitutional rights of women in Tanzania
I definitely wear many hats, but the one hat I have been thinking hard about the last years is the one of being a citizen and what that means. I am grateful that I have so many skills that I use every day to help investors in Africa and working with big corporations,...
PRIVATE EQUITY AND VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT CAN ALLEVIATE POVERTY IN AFRICA
Prior to working in investments, I naively thought that I could help Africa by working for the United Nations and, coming from a family of civil servants and politicians, it was the obvious choice to navigate towards the UN and “non-profit” world. However, I soon...
Tanzania’s New Investment Act: “Same – Same but Different”
The New Tanzania Investment Act 2022 has now become law replacing the Tanzania Investment Act Cap 38 RE 2015 and its amendments. While there was an expectation for major changes, the reality is that the new Act is more or less the same as the previous minus a few...
The Tanzania Foreign Exchange Regulations 2022 and What It Means for Traders and Investors in Tanzania and The EAC?
The Tanzania Foreign Exchange Regulations, Government Notice No. 294 published on 13/5/2022 (the “Tanzania Foreign Exchange Regulations”) are creating quite some noise in Tanzania amongst traders and investors. Given the efforts that the government of Tanzania has...
Tanzania’s Finance Bill of 2022: The Good and The Less Good
We have been zealously waiting for the Budget 2022 to come out and the ensuing Finance Bill of 2022 because this is President Samia Hassan Suluhu’s budget in essence. The budget has been received with the sentiment that more could have been done to really improve the...
The New Private Public Partnership Act of Tanzania
The Private Public Partnership (Amendment) Bill of 2023 was adopted in Parliament in June 2023 adding another signal to investors that Tanzania wants foreign investors and private sector to invest in Tanzania. This Bill aimed at addressing the challenges encountered...
TANZANIA’S FINANCE BILL OF 2023
The time of the year is here where the government presents the Budget for 2023/2024 and the Finance Bill that supports the same. On June 26 2023, the Parliament of Tanzania approved the National Budget for 2023/2024 amounting to Tanzania Shillings 44.4 Trillion up 7%...
The Intergovernmental Agreement Between The United Republic of Tanzania and the Emirate of Dubai Concerning the Economic and Social Partnership for the Development and Improving Performance of Sea and Lake Ports in Tanzania dated 25th October 2022
Commentary by Shikana Group Article 1 – Definitions and Interpretation (a) Definition of Terms “Project Company” shall mean DPW or a company registered in Tanzania (being an Affiliate of DPW) which has entered into a Project Agreement to under Project Activities. “...
Uganda Positioning Itself as Nuclear Energy Powered in the East African Region by 2031
Uganda has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. Between the rumoured power struggle between President Museveni and his son General Muhoozi Kainerugaba on the one hand, the closing down of the United Nations Human Rights Office in Uganda, and the...
Private Equity Investing in Tanzania
Private equity investing in Tanzania involves providing capital to private companies in the registered in Tanzania, that have a potential for high growth and significant returns on investment. Tanzania is one of the largest economies in East Africa and has significant...
Elon Musk’s Starlink Investment in Tanzania: Why so complicated?
It all started with a Tweet which called out on Elon Musk to come and invest in Tanzania to which Musk responded that Starlink is soon coming to Tanzania and that they are just waiting for government approvals. The Minister for Information, Communication and...
The New Carbon Trading Regulated in Tanzania
End of last year before COP, Tanzania enacted a regulation that provided for the rules of carbon trading in Tanzania. The regulation controls and manages the carbon trading in Tanzania and outlines the duties, rights and obligations of the stakeholders in this trade...
The Personal Data Protection Law in Tanzania : Good or Bad for Investors?
Data privacy has increasingly become important both for investors and advertisers but also for the regulators. Data protection is made to be taken seriously now and companies are paying hefty fines from British Airways who was fined USD 230 million for a data breach...
US-Africa Leaders Summit 2022 : Business Forum Commitments for East Africa
Prosper Africa published a document outlining the commitments in investment that were made during the US – Africa Leaders Summit. The Deal Room was hosted by Prosper Africa and brought together US and African governments and US and African private sector players in an...
US – Africa Leaders Summit 2022 : A New Dawn for US – Africa Relations?
The US – Africa Leaders Summit (the “Summit”) closed yesterday where 49 Heads of States went on a field trip to the USA, courtesy of the US President Biden. While the narrative has been that the meeting has nothing to do with China (and Russia to a lesser degree) and...