Describes how widely e-Commerce is used, the primary sectors that sell through e-commerce, and how much product/service in each sector is sold through e-commerce versus brick-and-mortar retail. Includes what a company needs to know to take advantage of e-commerce in the local market and , reputable, prominent B2B websites.
Last Published: 1/28/2019

eCommerce is not widely used in the Tanzanian market.  In the private sector, e-business is growing, but is still in its infancy.  Very few private sector companies have established business-to-business websites, secure credentialing is still nascent, and very few buyers have internationally accepted credit cards.  However, m-commerce, via mobile phones, is growing rapidly.  In addition, some vendors market their goods on Facebook and WhatsApp groups and deliver to customer’s residence or any other location.Payment is either by mobile money or cash on delivery. The arrival of the SEACOM undersea fiber optic cable in July 2009, the completion of Phase I of the national terrestrial fiber backbone in June 2010, and the connection of the Eassy submarine cable from South Africa in August 2010 have increased opportunities in this area. 
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.


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Tanzania eCommerce Industry Trade Development and Promotion eCommerce