Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has held high-level talks with Dangote Industries President Aliko Dangote on a major expansion of the group’s investments in Tanzania, covering transport infrastructure, fertilizer, power, ports and regional trade.

The meeting at State House in Dar es Salaam reaffirmed the long-standing partnership while opening a new phase of investment aligned with Tanzania’s industrialization agenda, a Dangote Group statement said. Dangote described Tanzania as one of Africa’s most attractive investment destinations and said the group had identified several strategic sectors capable of delivering significant value.

The talks covered port development, a 40 kilometer concrete access road for port operations, a special trade zone, a proposed 2,000 megawatt coal-fired power plant, a urea fertilizer plant and a transport link between Mtwara and Mbamba Bay. Dangote also explained the reasoning behind locating the planned East African refinery in Lamu, Kenya, while inviting Tanzania to take part.

President Samia welcomed the group’s continued confidence and directed relevant ministries to begin detailed technical discussions, appointing the Minister of Planning and Investment to coordinate the partnership, with formal negotiations expected to begin shortly and a Tanzanian delegation due to visit Nigeria.

Dangote Industries already runs one of Tanzania’s largest industrial investments through its $500 million cement plant in Mtwara, which produces three million tons a year for the domestic market and neighboring countries.