Gilead Teri Appointed to Lead Tanzania’s New Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority TISEZA

On 1 July 2025, President Samia Suluhu Hassan appointed Gilead John Teri as Director General of the newly established Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA).

TISEZA was created to oversee all investment and special economic zones activities in the country, following the merger of the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) and the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA).

Mr. Teri, who previously served as Executive Director of TIC, will lead the new Authority.

The appointment was announced in an official statement from the State House.

TIC was established under the Tanzania Investment Act of 1997 as the government’s central agency for promoting and facilitating investment.

It operated as a one-stop facilitation centre for investors, handling permits, licences, land access, and aftercare.

EPZA, established under the Export Processing Zones Act of 2002, was responsible for developing and managing export-oriented industrial zones offering incentives to manufacturers focused on exports.

The merger of TIC and EPZA into TISEZA was enacted through the Investment and Special Economic Zones Act No. 6 of 2025.

The reform followed a government review that identified overlapping roles and inefficiencies between the two agencies.

TISEZA is now tasked with coordinating all investment promotion, facilitation, and special economic zones development in Tanzania.

Its mandate also includes managing a national land bank for investment and operating a unified electronic platform for investor services.

The Investment and Special Economic Zones Act, 2025

The Act repeals the Tanzania Investment Act of 2022, the Export Processing Zones Act of 2002, and the Special Economic Zones Act of 2006, consolidating the functions of TIC and EPZA into a single institution.

The reform is based on a 2023 government evaluation that found inefficiencies and overlapping mandates between the two former agencies.

Under the new law, all investors are required to register with TISEZA before commencing operations in Tanzania, regardless of whether they are applying for fiscal incentives.

The Authority will issue either a certificate for general investments or a license for investments in designated special economic areas.

TISEZA also serves as a one-stop centre for issuing all required permits and approvals through a unified electronic platform.

A National Investment Development Committee chaired by the Prime Minister will oversee strategic planning and investment coordination.

Registered investors will be eligible for various incentives, including exemptions on customs duties, VAT, and corporate tax, along with non-fiscal incentives such as immigration facilitation and local tax relief.

The law also establishes a national land bank to catalogue public and private land available for investment, streamlining land acquisition procedures.

The Act guarantees the right to repatriate profits, protects against nationalization without due process and compensation, and defines mechanisms for resolving disputes through administrative channels, negotiation, or arbitration.

Existing investors under TIC or EPZA will continue to operate under their existing terms until expiry but must reapply to TISEZA for renewals, ensuring continuity and compliance under the new legal regime.