ACI FMA TANZANIA HOSTS IFTAR TO STRENGTHEN DIALOGUE ON FINANCIAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT

ACI FMA Tanzania President, Mr. Farid Yahya Ally, addresses participants during an iftar dinner in Dar es Salaam. The gathering brought together market participants, policymakers, and regulators to strengthen collaboration and promote a resilient financial market environment in the country. ACI FMA Tanzania is a non-profit organisation that promotes best market practices by providing financial markets practitioners with training, professional engagement opportunities, and certifications.

Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter Nalitolela (right), ACI FMA Global President, Mr. Rui Correia, and ACI FMA Tanzania President, Mr. Farid Yahya Ally, serve iftar dinner during an event hosted by ACI FMA Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.

ACI FMA Tanzania President, Mr. Farid Yahya Ally (right), exchanges views with ACI FMA Global President, Mr. Rui Correia (left), and Bank of Tanzania Senior Financial Analyst, Mr. Stanslaus Shenyali, during an iftar dinner hosted by ACI FMA Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.

ACI Financial Markets Association Tanzania has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the sustainable growth of Tanzania’s financial markets and contributing meaningfully to the broader development of the national economy.

The commitment was highlighted by the Association’s President, Farid Yahya Ally, during an iftar gala held in Dar es Salaam over the weekend. The event featured a panel discussion focusing on the progress and challenges facing Tanzania’s financial markets and brought together market participants, policymakers, and regulators.

“Through continued collaboration with regulators, policymakers, and industry participants, the Association will continue to support initiatives aligned with Tanzania’s long-term development objectives, including the aspirations of DIRA 2050, which aims to build a one-trillion-dollar economy,” said Mr. Ally.

Addressing distinguished representatives from the Bank of Tanzania, the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange, and Heads of Global Markets from leading banking institutions, Mr. Ally noted that as a professional body representing financial markets practitioners, ACI FMA Tanzania recognises its critical role in strengthening the development and integrity of Tanzania’s financial markets.

“Strengthening partnerships with policymakers and regulators remains central to our mission of promoting best market practices and ensuring that Tanzania continues to provide a conducive environment for both local and international investors,” he added.

Platform for Financial Market Dialogue

The iftar gathering served as an important platform for dialogue and engagement among market participants, policymakers, and regulators. Discussions focused on identifying ways to bridge existing institutional gaps and enhance collaboration in shaping a well-functioning and resilient financial market environment.

During the discussions, participants highlighted several challenges affecting the financial markets sector, including limited product diversification, complex regulatory onboarding processes, and the dominance of bank-led financing.

Responding to the concerns, Peter Nalitolela, Chief Executive Officer of the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange, acknowledged that while Tanzania’s capital markets continue to grow, retail investor awareness remains limited.

He noted that although the number of Central Depository System (CDS) accounts remains relatively low, the market has recently seen an increase in new investors entering the bourse.

“While more investors are showing interest in the market, persistent challenges remain, including limited product diversity and market preparedness to accommodate growing investor participation,” he said.

Mr. Nalitolela also observed that initial public offerings (IPOs) have slowed not only in Tanzania but also globally, reflecting broader market trends.

However, he emphasised that Tanzania is gradually transitioning from a government-led economic model towards a stronger public-private sector-driven economy, a shift that is beginning to generate positive momentum in both capital and equity markets.

ACI FMA Global Announces Scholarship for Women in Africa

Meanwhile, Rui Correia, President of ACI FMA Global, announced that the association will introduce a scholarship programme for women in Africa aimed at supporting female professionals in the financial markets sector.

“This is something we want to do particularly as we approach International Women’s Day. For this year, we will focus on scholarships for women in Africa, and next year we will introduce another initiative,” Mr. Correia said.

He emphasised that the association places strong value on knowledge sharing and professional development within the financial markets community.

“For us, education is not just about obtaining certificates. It is about sharing expertise, knowledge, and experiences across different areas of the financial markets,” he added.

About ACI FMA Tanzania

ACI Financial Markets Association Tanzania is a non-profit organisation operating under the umbrella of ACI FMA Global. The association promotes best market practices by providing financial markets practitioners with access to training, professional engagement opportunities, and internationally recognised certifications.

Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter Nalitolela (right), speaks during a dialogue session held alongside an iftar dinner hosted by ACI FMA Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.