IRINGA: MUFINDI District in Iringa Region is stepping up efforts to unlock its economic potential by bringing investors, entrepreneurs and public institutions together to link local resources with investment capital, technology and markets.
The initiative featured prominently at the Mufindi Investment Forum and Expo 2026, held recently at Wambi Primary School grounds in Mafinga, where stakeholders explored investment opportunities in agriculture, livestock, forestry, beekeeping and fisheries.
These sectors offer significant potential to boost production, add value to agricultural products and create employment.
Beyond showcasing the district’s natural wealth, the forum focused on encouraging local residents and businesspeople to seize available opportunities to establish and expand productive enterprises while connecting them with institutions capable of supporting their ventures.
Mufindi District Commissioner, Dr Linda Salekwa said investment should not be viewed as the preserve of external investors, stressing that local communities must take the lead in identifying and exploiting economic opportunities within their areas.
She said Mufindi had favourable conditions for producing a wide range of crops, including tea, avocados, sunflower, maize, rice and beans.
The district’s extensive forest resources also presented opportunities for timber trading and the production of other wood-based products.
Additionally, the presence of Ngwazi, Kihanga, Nzivi and Iramba dams offered considerable potential for expanding fishing and fish farming, which could diversify household incomes if supported by appropriate technologies and efficient production systems.
Speaking at the forum, Deputy Minister for Transport and Mufindi South Member of Parliament David Kihenzile underscored the importance of promoting the district’s economic assets, particularly commercial crop farming and tree production.
He called for stronger links between production and markets to ensure that Mufindi’s resources generated benefits beyond farming.
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“It is important to link production with markets so that the resources available in Mufindi District do not merely serve as a basis for agricultural activities, but also become a foundation for trade, processing and industrial development,” he said.
Recognising that investment is not limited to attracting large amounts of capital, the exhibition also gave small and mediumsized entrepreneurs an opportunity to learn how to improve their products and prepare them to compete more effectively in the market.
Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) inspector Helen Mampwe, from the Central Zone Office, educated participants on the importance of product standards, quality assurance and packaging that meets market requirements.
The training was designed to help entrepreneurs understand that producing goods alone is not enough to build a sustainable business. They must also ensure that product quality, presentation and packaging meet buyers’ expectations.
Financial institutions and local government authorities also participated in discussions on access to credit and opportunities to empower women.