Bindwel charts opportunities in Tanzania's education sector at expo

The expo, according to Meera Mathew, the founder of Takshikka Trade Fairs, showcased exhibits from leading global brands including Heidelberg, Canon, Konica Minolta, Epson, Bindwel, and Brother, alongside over 20 Chinese manufacturers. Notable Tanzanian printers and promotional companies such as Identity, Magenta, Vista Print, Dar City Promotions, Jamana Printers, Five Star Printers, Masumin, and Delfina Promotions also participated, highlighting local industry strength. The presence of major domestic business groups like Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited (MeTL) and its Packaging Division further emphasised the critical role of the print segment in Tanzania’s broader economic landscape.

Speaking exclusively to PrintWeek, Sudheeran Nair, Bindwel’s director for MEA and African regions, underscored Tanzania’s strategic importance in book printing. "Tanzania is one of the largest markets for Indian book printers, and all of them are our customers." Nair added, "The textbooks are produced and controlled by the Tanzanian Government, and there is currently no sufficient local infrastructure to address this huge requirement. We are seeing growth in digital printing in the market, and our fast-selling machines for bookbinding and digital post-printing will have a ready market here."

This outlook is supported by strong export trends, with India’s book print exports to Tanzania doubling between 2019 and 2022, reaching approximately INR 100-crore by 2022. In contrast, Kenya, with a more developed local printing infrastructure, sees Bindwel holding over 70% market share, solidifying its leadership in African markets. Bindwel maintains a service centre in Nairobi, providing support to East African nations.

Tanzania’s printing industry: Growing demand, digital shift, and infra constraints

A January 2025 report by 6Wresearch projects Tanzania’s printing market to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.9% between 2025 and 2031. This growth is fueled by increasing demand across the education, packaging, and advertising sectors. While offset printing remains dominant due to its affordability and scalability, digital printing is gaining traction, particularly for short runs and customised projects.

Despite this growth, local players face significant structural challenges, including high equipment and raw material costs, a limited skilled workforce, and reliance on outdated technologies. These factors contribute to a continued dependence on imported products from India, China, and the UAE.

As Tanzania’s demand for educational and promotional printed materials continues to rise, coupled with the increasing adoption of digital printing, Bindwel’s presence at the Print Pack Sign Expo highlights its commitment to bridging the country’s infrastructural gaps. With robust Indian export trends, a commanding leadership position in neighbouring Kenya, and a strong portfolio focused on automation and sustainable practices, Bindwel is strategically positioned to expand its presence in the Tanzanian market.