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Economic growth

Tanzania Seeks to Boost Economy with Reduced Fees and Levies in Livestock and Fisheries Sectors

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The government of Tanzania has introduced significant reforms aimed at improving the business environment and stimulating economic growth by reducing fees and levies in the livestock and fisheries sectors. As part of the ongoing implementation of the Blueprint for Regulatory Reforms to Improve the Business Environment, the changes aim to lower the cost of doing business, enhance sector competitiveness, and strengthen national food security. Minister for Finance Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba presented the 2025/2026 national budget estimates in the National Assembly, highlighting the measures designed to promote investment, job creation, and sectoral resilience.

Key Takeaways:

  • The government has proposed a significant reduction in fees and levies across the livestock and fisheries sectors to lower the cost of doing business and enhance sector competitiveness.
  • The revised export fee for livestock, including market fee and export fee at border livestock markets, has been reduced from 31,000/- to 30,000/- for cattle and other large livestock, and from 7,000/- to 6,500/- for sheep and goats.
  • The import licence fee for finfish (excluding tilapia) has been reduced from 6,500/- to 1,300/- per kilogramme to increase fish imports and bridge the national fish supply gap.
  • The reduction in import costs is expected to improve the availability of fish for domestic consumption, enhance nutrition, and ensure a steady supply of raw materials for local processing and export.
  • Other proposed changes include reducing the export royalty on frozen head-on prawns from 3,120/- to 2,600/- per kilogramme and slashing annual import licence fees for live crabs, lobsters, mussels, and other crustaceans from 650,000/- to 390,000/-.
  • The reforms also address the needs of stakeholders in sport fishing and aim to increase the availability of raw materials, stimulate business expansion, and support job creation.

Statistics:

  • Tanzania produces around 509,123 tonnes of fish annually, while national demand exceeds 1.25 million tonnes, leaving a shortfall of nearly 790,000 tonnes.
  • The proposed reduction in fees and levies is expected to have positive ripple effects across the economy, including increased foreign exchange earnings, new employment opportunities, and stronger support for local production.

Sources:

  • Daily News, "Minister announces reduction in fees, levies as part of budget estimates"

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