The Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange reported that more than 870,000 investors have participated in the market, including 265,000 through digital platforms, as Tanzania used the Building African Financial Markets Forum to highlight technology-driven capital-market growth.

The figures were presented during the second day of the 13th BAFM Forum in Dar es Salaam, where discussions focused on state-owned enterprise listings, ESG, sustainable finance, exchange-traded funds and cross-border market development. DSE ICT Manager Ali Oman said mobile trading had risen from 11,000 investors in 2022 to almost 265,000, with 74% of new investors aged between 20 and 39.

TanzaniaInvest also reported that digital transaction turnover has reached approximately TZS 425 billion year-to-date. The data points to a capital market increasingly shaped by mobile access and younger retail participation, even as Tanzania works to expand the supply of investable products.

Treasury Registrar Nehemia Mchechu said Tanzania's market capitalization has increased from USD 6 billion in 2020 to USD 10 billion currently. He also said the government is preparing to list four to five utility and commercial companies in the current year, a step that could add depth to the market if approvals and preparation are completed.

The forum also highlighted exchange-traded funds as an opportunity for African markets. Global ETF assets under management were reported at more than USD 23 trillion, while African ETF markets remain about USD 18 billion, most of them feeder funds.

For Tanzania, the immediate significance is that digital access and new listings need to move together. More mobile investors can widen participation, but deeper markets will depend on bringing more credible issuers and products to the exchange.