Tanzania is working to strengthen how it implements infrastructure projects by adopting lessons from Kenya's approach to public-private partnerships, according to the country's Minister for Works Masanja Kadogosa. He made the statement in Nairobi during the 16th Africa Public-Private Partnership Conference, where he stressed that African nations should embrace the PPP framework to expand their ability to finance and deliver major development initiatives.
Kadogosa said Tanzania is developing strategies to apply the PPP model across multiple projects and that drawing on Kenya's experience would help the country identify best practices, attract private investors and overcome implementation challenges. During discussions at the conference, officials explored investment opportunities in Tanzanian infrastructure, specifically four road projects: Kibaha-Chalinze, Chalinze-Morogoro, Morogoro-Iringa and Igawa-Tunduma.
A key focus of the discussions was Kenya's establishment of the Kenya National Infrastructure Fund, which has an estimated capital base of 3 billion US dollars. The fund was designed to support infrastructure financing and reduce investment risks that might otherwise deter private sector participation in PPP projects. Kadogosa emphasized that Kenya's experience offers important lessons for Tanzania in improving its investment climate, increasing private sector involvement and ensuring sustainable financing for major infrastructure work.
The 16th Africa Public-Private Partnership Conference brought together stakeholders from Kenya, Uganda, France, Tunisia, Ivory Coast and Senegal to exchange experiences and discuss strategies for strengthening public-private cooperation in financing and implementing development projects. Tanzania's interest in strengthening its PPP framework aligns with its National Development Vision 2050, which aims to build a competitive and inclusive economy through investment in modern infrastructure, greater private sector participation and faster implementation of strategic projects.
For Tanzanian savers, borrowers and businesses, the shift toward PPP models for infrastructure could mean improved roads and services, though it also means private companies will play a larger role in projects traditionally handled by government alone.