The government is urging private sector players to seize growing opportunities in aviation investment, pointing to a rapidly expanding market and rising demand that could markedly boost the sector’s role in the national economy.
This appeal was delivered yesterday in Arusha by Deputy Minister for Transport David Kihenzile during the opening of the 18th Joint Transport Sector Review (JTSR) meeting, which is currently underway.
Kihenzile highlighted that the aviation sector is showing strong commercial potential fueled by a swiftly expanding market and increasing demand for air travel, especially in areas like trade, tourism, and social services.
To sustain this momentum, he explained, the government is working to improve the investment climate by strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks to help private operators operate more efficiently.
“With the market continuing to strengthen, the government is enhancing the investment environment, including regulations and laws, to facilitate private aircraft operations,” he stated. “The private sector now has a major opportunity, and as government we are reviewing and removing legal and regulatory bottlenecks that could slow down your activities.”
On infrastructure, the deputy minister noted that the government has begun constructing and upgrading airports in regions with high demand, including Mbeya, Rukwa, Katavi, Kigoma, Mtwara, and Lindi. Additional projects are planned in Shinyanga, Simiyu, Musoma, Njombe, and within Serengeti National Park to bolster tourism.
Kihenzile said the government intends to add eight new aircraft by 2030 to ensure optimal use of expanded facilities and to increase the number of operational airports from 16. “These airports should also be accessible to the private sector so that government investment delivers the intended economic returns and benefits,” he said.
He encouraged experts and stakeholders at the forum to engage in thorough discussions on timely implementation of government resolutions to boost the transport sector’s contribution to national economic growth, with aviation playing a key role.
The three-day meeting, held from December 15–17, 2025, carries the theme “An integrated transport system as the foundation for economic transformation towards Vision 2050.” Its aim is to assess the implementation of transport sector policies, plans, and projects.
The forum has gathered major players, including government officials, development partners, public and private institutions, and civil society organizations.
In a separate address, the Ministry of Transport’s Permanent Secretary, Prof. Godius Kahyarara, stated that the JTSR is an annual platform for joint planning and addressing implementation challenges in transport projects, notably roads, railways, ports, and aviation. He noted that participants review infrastructure progress while identifying constraints that delay or undermine timely and efficient project delivery.
Prof. Kahyarara also noted that the transport sector currently accounts for more than 10 percent of national employment, engages about three million workers, and generates over $2.66 billion in annual revenues.
