DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzanian policymakers and business leaders are calling for greater participation of domestic companies in public-private partnership (PPP) projects as the country prepares to implement a new national development plan.
The calls came during the launch of the PPPC Centre Stage, a dialogue platform created by the Public Private Partnership Centre to encourage discussion between government, investors and development partners.
Stakeholders said local participation should go beyond traditional “local content” policies to include equity ownership and management roles in large infrastructure projects.
“When we talk about partnerships, we should ensure that the domestic private sector becomes part of the ownership structure of PPP projects,” said Mwanahamis Hussein, policy director at the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation.
Such participation would allow Tanzanian firms to build technological expertise and management capacity once foreign investors eventually exit projects, she said.
The government plans to use PPPs to finance infrastructure and development projects under the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan (2026–2031) and the long-term Tanzania Development Vision 2050.
PPP Centre Executive Director David Kafulila said the platform would host monthly discussions to gather proposals on priority projects and financing models.