On April 15, our Executive Director, Matthieu Rochat, had the honor of attending the National Tax and Investment Dialogue on the theme:
“Increasing Domestic Resources Mobilization Through Nurturing Local Content”, in the presence of Hon. Dr. Philip Isdor Mpango, Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania.
A heartfelt thank you to the Tanzania Private Sector Federation (TPSF) for the kind invitation. Switzerland-Tanzania Chamber of Commerce (STCC) was proud to represent its members at this high-level forum.
This conference provided an opportunity to understand the key trends shaping the upcoming 2025–2026 national budget, including notably the following major takeaways:
📉 A tax base that remains too narrow — only 2 to 6 millions taxpayers out of a population of 65 millions
🌍 A large informal sector that escapes taxation
💡 The need to simplify the tax system, especially for SMEs, to unlock internal growth
🤝 A push for “friendly” tax collection methods
📚 A lack of “tax culture,” where citizens struggle to see the link between taxation and public services
🚄 Tax collection must enable private sector growth: the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) was cited as a powerful example of how tax revenues can fuel national development.
🔄 Local value addition — in sectors like agriculture and mining for instance — must be a priority. By reducing reliance on exports of raw materials, Tanzania can generate more jobs, grow the local economy, and sustainably increase its tax revenues.
🎯 The key message was clear: broaden the tax base, improve the business climate, and invest in a new tax mindset awareness to build truly inclusive growth.
