London. Tanzania is set to reach a major milestone in its capital markets on Friday July 24, 2026 when the International Finance Corporation (IFC) lists the country’s first offshore bond denominated in Tanzanian shillings on the London Stock Exchange, as the government intensifies efforts to attract long-term international investment.
The minister for Finance Amb Khamis Mussa Omar is in London promoting Tanzania as an investment destination while preparing to officiate the listing of the bond, which the government says will broaden access to international capital, diversify sources of development finance and attract a new class of global investors.
The IFC-backed bond, whose value has not yet been disclosed, will become the first offshore bond linked to the Tanzanian shilling.
Officials say the instrument is expected to strengthen confidence in Tanzania’s capital markets by giving international investors exposure to the local currency without requiring the government to issue a sovereign bond directly.
The planned listing comes as Tanzania seeks to mobilise long-term financing for strategic infrastructure projects, including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), ports, roads and energy developments that form part of the country’s long-term economic transformation agenda.
Speaking at the Tanzania Strategic Investment and Partnership Forum in London, Amb Omar invited international investors to explore opportunities across infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, agriculture, mining and financial services.
The forum, organised by the ministry of Finance in collaboration with Standard Bank, brought together senior executives from global financial institutions, insurance companies and investment firms as Tanzania stepped up its economic diplomacy to strengthen links with international capital markets.
Amb Omar said the government had implemented policy reforms and investment incentives aimed at creating a more attractive business environment for foreign investors.
He said private investment would be central to achieving the objectives of Tanzania Development Vision 2050, which seeks to transform the country into a $1 trillion economy by 2050, with about 70 percent of the required financing expected to come from the private sector.
Presenting Tanzania’s macroeconomic outlook, Amb Omar said the economy expanded by 5.9 percent in 2025, compared with 5.5 percent in 2024.
Inflation had remained below five percent, among the lowest rates in Africa.
He said the fiscal deficit had narrowed to 3.1 percent of gross domestic product, while domestic revenue now finances 74.2 percent of the national budget.
Public debt also remains sustainable, according to assessments by the International Monetary Fund.
Standard Bank Europe Deputy Chief Executive and Standard Bank Tanzania Chief Executive Ian Carson said the bank remained committed to connecting African economies with international financial markets.
He described Tanzania as one of Africa’s most attractive destinations for long-term investment because of its strong economic fundamentals and expanding investment opportunities.
Tanzania’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Mbelwa Kairuki, said the government would continue engaging international investors through regular dialogue as part of its broader economic diplomacy strategy.
He said Tanzania was implementing comprehensive economic reforms anchored on sound macroeconomic management, structural reforms and greater private sector participation, while welcoming long-term partnerships that support inclusive and sustainable growth.
The discussions also focused on several strategic investment projects.
Investors sought an update on the proposed $42 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, one of the largest planned energy investments in Africa.
Mr Omar said negotiations had advanced significantly and that the remaining issues were internal commercial matters among project partners.
He said the government stood ready to proceed once those processes had been completed.
Participants also expressed interest in Tanzania’s expanding transport infrastructure, particularly the Standard Gauge Railway and the ports of Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Mtwara, which are expected to strengthen the country’s role as a regional logistics hub.
The government said almost the entire 2,000-kilometre SGR network is expected to be completed by the 2030/31 financial year, reinforcing Tanzania’s position as the principal trade gateway for East and Central Africa.
Other issues raised during the forum included foreign exchange availability, energy security, the digital economy, agricultural value addition and the government’s Cotton-to-Cloth industrialisation programme.
Ambassador Omar’s visit to London, which runs from July 21 to July 26, also includes meetings with senior officials from the World Bank, IFC, the London Stock Exchange, international asset managers, development finance institutions and commercial banks to present Tanzania’s economic outlook, Development Vision 2050 and the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan.
The visit culminates on Friday with the planned listing of the landmark Tanzanian shilling-denominated bond on the London Stock Exchange.
