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Tanzania’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has urged the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank) to accelerate financial support for the completion of the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) and other vital development projects in the country.
Majaliwa made the appeal on Thursday in St. George’s, the capital of Grenada, during a bilateral meeting with Dr. George Elombi, the President-Elect and newly appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Africa-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) 2025, where Majaliwa represented President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the first female president of Tanzania.
During the talks, the Prime Minister emphasized that Tanzania is offering a welcoming and business-friendly investment climate with a series of high-impact initiatives ready for support—chief among them, the long-awaited African Medical Centre of Excellence.
“This facility will be a game-changer,” said Majaliwa. “It will reduce the burden of seeking treatment abroad and improve access to advanced care for millions of citizens in Tanzania and the East African region.”
The Centre, once operational, is expected to specialize in oncology, haematology, cardiology, and diagnostic services. It will also attract top medical professionals and reduce reliance on medical referrals outside the country—a challenge Tanzania has faced for years, particularly for cancer and heart patients.
A similar AMCE project in Abuja, Nigeria, is nearing completion. That flagship hospital, launched in partnership with global institutions, is projected to begin operations in June 2025 and will serve as a regional referral hub in West Africa.
In addition to healthcare, Majaliwa also spotlighted other strategic sectors such as transportation, energy, and infrastructure, where further support from Afreximbank could unlock significant growth.
“Tanzania is open for investment,” he added. “And with strong partnerships, we can fast-track our development goals and improve lives across the country.”
Founded in 1993, Afreximbank was created to boost trade within Africa and strengthen economic ties across the continent. In recent years, it has expanded its focus to include health, technology, and education—sectors made even more urgent by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This call from Tanzania reflects a growing movement among African countries to build self-reliant health systems that can withstand future public health emergencies while providing inclusive, high-quality care. As Prime Minister Majaliwa’s message resonated across the ACTIF 2025 summit, the spotlight now turns to Afreximbank’s response—and how quickly it can help translate vision into reality.
