ABOUT

Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), Ministry of Transport in collaboration with the Central Corridor Tanzania, Kigoma Regional Office, TCCIA and the Embassies of United Republic of Tanzania in DRC, Zambia and Burundi, are organising The Lake Tanganyika Trade and Investment Forum, scheduled to take place from 11th – 12th February, 2025 at Lake Tanganyika Hotel, Kigoma Region Tanzania.

The Forum will be the third iteration representing a critical milestone in the ongoing initiative to position Kigoma as a strategic trade hub for cross border trade along the Lake Tanganyika neighboring Countries namely; Burundi, Rwanda, Zambia, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It’s also act as a strategic initiative aimed at fostering economic growth, investment, and sustainable development within the Region.
The Forum is expected to bring together around 500 key stakeholders ranging from government officials, policy makers, private sector representatives, investors, entrepreneurs and development partners to discuss and address critical issues affecting the region's business environment.

KEY SECTORS

The key sectors will be Agriculture, Fisheries, tourism, mining, manufacturing, financial, Blue economy and transportation.
• Venue: Lake Tanganyika Hotel in Kigoma
• Dates: 11-12 February, 2025

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OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the TBF is to make Kigoma a Business Hub among the countries around Lake Tanganyika.
Specifically, the TBF will;
➤ Create a platform for dialogue and networking among key stakeholders.
➤ Highlight investment opportunities in the region's diverse sectors.
➤ Facilitate public-private partnerships to drive economic growth.
➤ Promote sustainable business practices, trends and cross border trade along the region.
➤ Attract domestic and foreign investment to the region.
➤ Identify and discuss the business and environmental barriers that hinders business activities along the region.
➤ Promote cross-border trade by identifying and addressing barriers creating.
➤ Showcasing trade and investment opportunities for both large investors and SMEs in the region.

TARGET PARTICIPANTS AND COUNTRIES

Countries:
The participating countries are expected to be five (5) namely United Republic of Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.

Participants:
The forum is expected to attract around 350 delegates in which 150 will be from URT and 200 from other participating countries namely DRC (50), Burundi (50), Rwanda (50) and Zambia (50). These will include;
➤ Ministries and Government agencies.
➤ Embassies of participating countries.
➤ Policy-makers.
➤ Representatives from the private sector, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
➤ Investors and financial institutions.
➤ Development partners and international organizations.
➤ Civil society organizations.
➤ Academic and research institutions.

FORUM PROGRAMME

Day One: 11th February, 2025
➤ Official Opening Ceremony: A high-level event to officially launch the forum and welcome participants.
➤ Plenary Sessions: Keynote speeches from prominent figures on regional economic development, investment climate, logistics and sustainable business practices.
➤ Networking Events (B2B, G2G, B2G): Opportunities for participants to connect and build relationships.
➤ Exhibition: A showcase of products, services, and investment opportunities from the region's businesses

Day Two: 12th February, 2025
➤ Panel Discussions: Focused discussions on specific sectors, such as agriculture, tourism, mining, manufacturing, financial and transportation sectors and, to identify challenges and opportunities.
➤ Breakout Sessions: Smaller group discussions to delve deeper into specific topics and develop actionable recommendations.
➤ On-going Exhibition
➤ Networking
➤ Official Closing Ceremony