Zanzibar emerges as top market for Kenyan investors in energy, construction and logistics

The 18 Kenyans are among the 50 nationalities touring Tanzania and Zanzibar as part of Equity Group’s Trade Mission. The rest are from Canada, Nigeria, Poland, DRC, Germany, Eritrea, Israel, Uganda, Ethiopia and Australia.

Equity Group positioned the forum to move beyond presentations into deal facilitation, offering regulatory engagement through government one‑stop channels, structured B2B matchmaking with ZIPA clients and introductions for potential joint ventures, suppliers and local partners.

Equity Group Director for Trade Relations, AQ Hamza, speaking on behalf of the Group Managing Director and CEO, Dr James Mwangi, said: “This Roadshow is more than a business mission, it is a platform for unlocking Africa's immense economic potential. By bringing together investors, government institutions and the private sector, we are creating partnerships that drive investment, expand trade and accelerate regional integration."

"Equity Group remains committed to facilitating cross-border commerce and empowering businesses to seize opportunities across Africa, with Zanzibar standing out as a strategic gateway for investment in the region.”

ZIPA framed the roadshow as a gateway into the archipelago’s priority sectors, tourism, blue economy, agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, construction, logistics, transport, energy, mining, financial services and real estate, backed by a semi‑autonomous investment framework and a suite of fiscal and non‑fiscal incentives.

“This trade mission provides an excellent platform to connect businesses, investors and government institutions, exchange ideas and build partnerships that promote investment, expand trade and unlock new opportunities for collaboration,” said Al haji Jecha, Director of Planning and Research at ZIPA.

He added that, “The sectors represented today including construction, real estate, logistics and transportation, warehousing, energy, mining, agriculture, manufacturing, financial services and general trade are among Zanzibar's priority sectors. Zanzibar offers tremendous opportunities, and we stand ready to work with you in transforming your investment ambitions into successful ventures.”

Kenyan participation is energy‑heavy, with eight delegates in power and fuels operating not only in Kenya but also across Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Burundi, the DRC, South Africa, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ghana and Ethiopia, and with footprints in Belgium, Germany, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.

The construction contingent comprises four firms active across Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, South Africa, Congo DRC and Congo Brazzaville, reflecting deep ties to the region’s infrastructure build‑out.

Three agricultural and agri‑products businesses with operations spanning Kenya, Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates and Poland add a trade dimension, while delegates in distribution, financial services and marketing, operating in markets such as the Maldives, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania and the UAE, and in Kenya and Rwanda, round out the cohort. The mix underscores growing appetite for logistics, power and processing plays linked to Zanzibar’s planned industrial and maritime hubs.

Officials used the forum to walk investors through the archipelago’s investment procedures and guarantees, highlighting corporate income tax holidays in designated zones, exemptions from import duties and VAT on approved capital goods and construction materials, long‑term land leases within SEZs, and full repatriation of profits and capital after applicable taxes.

ZIPA said its one‑stop centre streamlines company registration, sector licensing and the issuance of work and residence permits for key staff and offers aftercare support for operational hurdles and expansion phases.

At the same time, ZIPA reminded prospective investors that projects must be registered and approved before marketing or buyer solicitation, and that agreements should be reviewed and endorsed by the authority to ensure legal validity and compliance with zone rules. Investors were encouraged to verify a developer’s or operator’s ZIPA registration status and specific zone designation, and to confirm incentive eligibility and any sector‑specific conditions before committing funds.

The forum forms part of Equity’s four‑day Tanzania and Zanzibar Trade and Investment Roadshow aimed at unlocking cross‑border trade, strengthening regional value chains and expanding intra‑African commerce under AfCFTA.