Government Launches Pharmaceutical Investment Acceleration Task Force (PIAT) to Drive Industrial Growth

DAR ES SALAAM – In a decisive move to strengthen national health security and transform the country into a premier regional healthcare manufacturing hub, the Government of Tanzania has officially launched the Pharmaceutical Investment Acceleration Task Force (PIAT).

The inter-institutional body is mandated to dismantle bureaucratic bottlenecks, optimize the domestic business environment, and systematically attract strategic local and international investors to the healthcare sector.

A Unified Regulatory Framework

Announcing the initiative during a high-level briefing with domestic medicines and health products manufacturers, Health Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa outlined a structural shift in how regulatory clearances will be managed.

PIAT will operate as a central coordination mechanism, introducing a streamlined Green-Lane Approval System. This framework replaces traditional, linear administrative paths with a simultaneous review process covering:

• Industrial licensing and operational permits
• Land allocation within designated special economic zones
• Product registration via the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA)
• Utilities connection, fiscal incentives, and public procurement onboarding

Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa emphasized that the era of fragmented and delayed approvals has ended, promising serious investors clear, predictable, and expedited decisions.