Tanzania’s MeTL Group is strengthening its food processing business with a new investment aimed at improving grain storage and milling capacity at its Bandari facility.

The diversified African conglomerate has signed a procurement and construction contract worth more than €2 million ($2.3 million) with Italian industrial manufacturer AGI EMEA for the supply and installation of modern grain storage silos and handling equipment.

The agreement is expected to improve the company’s ability to store cereals, manage supply challenges and support the growing demand for processed food products in Tanzania and other regional markets.

The project is being supported through a trade finance arrangement backed by Italy’s export credit agency SACE, which operates under the country’s Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The financing structure allows AGI EMEA to provide flexible payment terms while helping reduce risks associated with cross-border industrial transactions.

New storage system to boost milling operations

The equipment will be installed at MeTL Group’s cereals storage and milling facility in Bandari, a strategic commercial location that plays an important role in Tanzania’s logistics and trade network.

The new hermetic steel silos are designed to protect grain from moisture, pests and quality deterioration.

The additional storage capacity will allow the company to better manage supplies between harvest seasons and reduce exposure to changes in global commodity prices.

The project will be managed by 21st Century Food & Packaging, a MeTL Group subsidiary and one of the region’s major grain milling operators.

Company executives expect the upgraded infrastructure to support higher production levels and improve efficiency across the plant.

Italian partnership supports Tanzania’s industrial growth

SACE said the agreement reflects its efforts to connect international buyers in East Africa with Italian engineering companies through its “Push Strategy” initiative.

AGI EMEA’s involvement provides MeTL Group with access to specialized industrial technology as the company continues investing in manufacturing and food production capacity within Tanzania.

MeTL expands local manufacturing footprint

MeTL Group, chaired by Tanzanian businessman Mohammed Dewji, has built a broad presence across sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, energy and consumer goods.

The company focuses on producing goods for domestic and regional markets across Africa.

Through 21st Century Food & Packaging, MeTL supplies staple food products to consumers while also exporting milling byproducts such as wheat and maize bran to international markets, including the Middle East, where they are used in animal feed production.

The latest investment adds to MeTL Group’s efforts to strengthen Tanzania’s agricultural value chain by improving storage, processing and supply reliability.