ZINGELA MARINA

COUNTRY OVERVIEW

Tanzania is one of Africa’s fastest growing economies with almost 7 percent annual national GDP growth since 2000.

With an overall population of about 55 million (2016), private sector currently plays a major role the economic development of Tanzania and the government's guide towards the country’s efforts to reach middle-income status by 2025.

Businesses in Tanzania are at the forefront of growth through job creation, innovation, generating tax revenue, and fair competition. The Tanzanian private sector’s vast financial resources and expertise in market-based solutions have the potential for tackling systemic societal challenges.

The Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance shows Tanzania has improved in its overall governance indicators between 2015-2018, causing the medium-term outlook to be positive, with growth projected at 6.6% in both 2019 and 2020, which is also supported by large infrastructure spending. Headline inflation is projected to marginally increase to 5.2% in 2019 and 5.1% in 2020 due to increased government spending.

Key opportunities include abundant natural resources, a strategic geographic location, and immense development potential for tourism. The Export Zone Processing Agency established in 2008 to accelerate manufacturing exports and help the country achieve structural transformation has helped attract close to $1 billion in foreign direct investment and revive the manufacturing sector into the second largest economy in all of east Africa.

PROJECT CONCEPT

Zingela Marina is envisioned as a new generation coastal city in Bagamoyo, designed to relieve the pressure on Dar es Salaam while positioning Tanzania as a strategic gateway to the Indian Ocean. Anchored by a deep-sea port and a special economic zone, it will connect the Tanzanian hinterland to global markets, creating opportunities in logistics, fisheries, light manufacturing, and the blue economy.

At its heart, Zingela Marina celebrates Bagamoyo’s history while building its future. The coral-stone streets of the old town will be restored as a cultural quarter, filled with boutique hotels, galleries, and markets, while new districts rise with shaded boulevards, renewable energy, and water-secure infrastructure designed to withstand climate pressures.

Along the coast, the marina itself will become the city’s signature — a waterfront of eco-lodges, resorts, and sailing docks that positions Tanzania as a destination for marine tourism on par with Zanzibar and the world’s best island getaways. Beyond leisure, the marina will also anchor ferries, cruise links, and a knowledge corridor with universities and training centers focused on hospitality, marine sciences, and advanced logistics.

Zingela Marina will be more than a city: it will be a gateway to Africa’s blue future — an urban model where culture, commerce, and coastline meet to shape the next chapter of East Africa’s growth