Tanzania and Japan Forge Strategic Healthcare and Energy Partnerships Through New MoUs
D Tanzania and Japan have deepened their bilateral cooperation with the signing of six new memoranda of understanding (MoUs), marking major strides in healthcare, energy, and investment. Among the most significant outcomes is a groundbreaking project to establish a state-of-the-art kidney transplant training center in Dodoma, backed by a 28 billion Tanzanian shilling grant from Japan.
Signed during the Tanzania–Japan Business, Investment and Tourism Forum in Osaka and witnessed by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, the kidney center agreement brings together Japan’s Tokushukai Medical Group, Benjamin Mkapa Hospital, and the University of Dodoma (UDOM). The facility will serve both Tanzanian citizens and patients from across Sub-Saharan Africa, positioning Tanzania as a regional leader in specialist kidney care.
“This is a transformative step for our healthcare system,” said Prof. Abel Makubi, executive director of Benjamin Mkapa Hospital. “It will become a center of excellence in kidney transplant services, training, and research.”
UDOM Vice Chancellor Prof. Lugano Kusiluka added that the project supports Tanzania’s broader goal of strengthening medical education and local capacity. The university plans to launch a medical equipment engineering program aimed at reducing dependency on foreign technicians and developing local expertise in health technologies.
Beyond healthcare, the forum saw the signing of other strategic agreements, including energy and industrial cooperation. The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and Japan’s JGC Corporation signed a pact to advance oil and gas collaboration, while the Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC) partnered with Toshiba Energy Systems for geothermal energy development.
Additionally, the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) and the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA) signed cooperation agreements with Japan’s Axcel Africa to attract investments into both mainland and Zanzibar. Zanzibar, which is promoting industrial zones in Pemba, showcased its blue economy initiatives and emphasized the potential for sustainable fisheries and marine product processing.
Minister of Industry and Trade Dr. Selemani Jafo said the MoUs align with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s vision to make Tanzania a premier investment destination. “These agreements underscore our commitment to strategic sectors like energy, health, tourism, and infrastructure,” he noted.
By March 2025, Japan had 24 active investment projects in Tanzania worth over $42 million, employing more than 1,100 people.
The forum was part of Tanzania’s broader participation in the upcoming World Expo Osaka 2025 and served as a high-level platform for enhancing trade, tourism, and economic cooperation between the two countries.