DAR ES SALAAM, week of October 17, 2026 — Tanzania is experiencing one of the most active weeks in its recent economic history. Two major deals are commanding the attention of African and international investors: the acquisition by Tanzanian group Amsons of Swiss firm Oryx Energies' Tanzanian assets for over $230 million, and confirmation that Tanzanian startups have raised $90 million in 2026 — putting the country on track for its first-ever $100 million funding year.
Amsons absorbs Oryx Tanzania: a landmark energy deal
Amsons Group, the conglomerate of Tanzanian entrepreneur Edha Nahdi, finalised the acquisition of Oryx Energies' Tanzanian assets — petrol stations, storage terminals and distribution infrastructure — for over $230 million. The deal, announced on October 16, is one of the largest ever completed by a private Tanzanian group. Oryx Energies, a subsidiary of Swiss giant Vitol, had been operating in Tanzania for decades. By taking over these assets, Amsons consolidates its position as East Africa's leading private oil company, having also launched a $182.89 million bid for Holcim's Bamburi Cement Kenya.
Tanzanian startups: on course for a historic $100M year
On the innovation front, Tanzania's government and ecosystem players have announced that the country's startups raised $90 million in the first nine months of 2026 — an unprecedented performance for a market long underestimated on the continent. The government has also initiated the creation of a $50 million venture capital fund dedicated to Tanzanian startups and SMEs, as part of reforms aimed at building a competitive regional VC ecosystem. The Tanzania Impact Investment Forum (TIIF) 2026 confirmed these trends.
A country asserting itself as an investment hub
These moves are not isolated. In parallel, France's Treasury Directorate noted in its October 23 economic briefs a railway project connecting the port of Mtwara to SADC markets — a corridor that could transform Tanzania into a logistics gateway for southern Africa. President Samia Suluhu Hassan's government is multiplying positive signals to foreign investors, combining land security, tax reforms and infrastructure development.
Why it matters
Tanzania is not a peripheral market for Indian Ocean players. Its coastline, the port of Dar es Salaam — one of East Africa's most active — and its proximity to the Comoros and Seychelles make it a natural trade partner for the OI zone. Mauritian and Réunionese investors looking at East Africa must now integrate Tanzania into their continental strategy.
Sources: The Kenya Times, Billionaires.Africa, TanzaniaInvest, The Citizen, French Treasury — AEOI Economic Briefs, week of October 19, 2026.