DAR ES SALAAM: THE CEO Roundtable of Tanzania (CEOrt) has called for stronger government-business coordination to reduce the economic costs of recurring climate shocks, protect infrastructure and maintain business continuity.
Business leaders and climate experts said repeated damage to roads, electricity networks and drainage systems expose vulnerabilities that individual companies could not adequately address alone.
They called for early preparedness, better infrastructure planning and greater use of business experiences to guide public interventions.
The call emerged from CEOrt’s October Members’ Engagement, themed “Beyond the Forecast: Building Resilience to Climate Risk,” which examined how climate information, access to finance and public-private collaboration could help Tanzania reduce losses and sustain economic activity.
Moderating the discussion, Serengeti Breweries Limited Managing Director, Dr Obinna Anyalebechi said climate information had little value unless it informed practical action.
“No matter how much climate intelligence or information we have, it makes little difference if we do not act on it. Action is what can protect businesses, save lives, safeguard customers and preserve the wider ecosystems in which we operate,” he said.
Tanzania Meteorological Authority Director General, Dr Ladislaus Chang’a, who presented the 2026/27 climate outlook online, urged stakeholders to integrate weather and climate information into socio-economic planning.
He said monitoring seasonal forecasts could help agriculture, transport, tourism and manufacturing anticipate disruptions and adjust production, procurement and distribution plans.
Super Meals Limited Managing Director, Ms Fauzia Malik, said the company had adjusted production and stock distribution to manage potential disruptions at its Mkuranga factory.
Shambani Milk Chief Executive Officer and founder, Mr Victor Mfinanga, illustrated the urgency of reliable transport, saying the company had approximately 72 hours before its milk spoiled if road closures prevented deliveries.
Asilia Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Jeroen Harderwijk, highlighted the tourism sector’s exposure to disruptions affecting natural attractions, weather conditions and access to destinations.
Advent Construction Limited Managing Director, Dhruv Jog, said reducing infrastructure vulnerability required integrated urban planning, not engineering solutions alone.
“One of the mistakes we make is treating this primarily as an engineering problem. It is, more fundamentally, an urban planning problem,” he said, stressing the importance of adequate drainage, infrastructure maintenance and development decisions that account for wider consequences.
On financing, Stanbic Bank Chief Executive Officer, Manzi Rwegasira, highlighted scenario planning as a tool for assessing climate risks and identifying investments that strengthen business resilience.
Vice-President’s Office Assistant Director of Environment, Paul Deogratius, emphasised integrating environmental considerations into national development planning under DIRA 2050 and creating clear frameworks to attract private capital into resilient infrastructure.
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CEOrt Board Director, David Nchimbi, said climate resilience should remain a business priority regardless of whether a particular rainy season was associated with El Niño. He said recurring disruptions demonstrated the importance of infrastructure designed and maintained to support business continuity, adding that the cost of inaction could exceed the cost of preparation.
CEOrt Chief Executive Officer, Santina Benson, said the organisation would continue bringing the government and businesses together to identify interventions and ensure private-sector concerns informed planning and decision-making.