BL Agro expands to Africa with US$740M agribusiness investment
In the first phase, the company will invest in a vegetable oil complex with a processing capacity of 1,100 tonnes per day.
TANZANIA – Indian food and agribusiness company BL Agro Industries plans to invest approximately US$740 million (₹70 billion) in the country over the next decade, marking its first major international expansion.
The proposed investment will cover edible oil processing, agriculture, dairy, animal husbandry, research, and manufacturing, aiming to develop an integrated food production ecosystem and establish Tanzania as a gateway to the wider East African market.
Headquartered in Bareilly, India, BL Agro plans to prioritize edible oil production, capitalizing on Tanzania’s significant sunflower and oilseed potential.
According to the company, its first major project will be a vegetable oil complex involving oilseed crushing, solvent extraction and refining facilities.
The plant is planned to process approximately 1,100 tonnes of oilseeds per day and is expected to become operational within three years, subject to the necessary approvals.
The initial oil processing project is estimated to require an investment of about ₹15 billion (US$158M).
BL Agro plans to source oilseeds from local farmers while exploring its own cultivation operations to strengthen raw material supplies.
The initiative could increase domestic processing capacity, create additional market opportunities for sunflower producers and reduce reliance on imported edible oils.
Beyond oil processing, the company plans to invest about ₹20 billion (US$210.6M) in cattle breeding and livestock development over seven years.
It has earmarked a further ₹15 billion (US$158M) for agricultural infrastructure, including potential local tractor manufacturing and other farming-related activities.
The company is also exploring vegetable production and other export-oriented agricultural opportunities.
BL Agro’s expansion follows a visit by a five-member company delegation to Tanzania, where representatives met with government officials and other stakeholders to discuss investment opportunities and project implementation.
The proposed investment also coincides with Tanzania and India’s efforts to strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Ashish Khandelwal, managing director of BL Agro, said Tanzania offers considerable opportunities to improve agricultural productivity through Indian technology, processing expertise and long-term partnerships.
The company is also considering cooperation with local farmers through contract farming and agricultural supply-chain development.
The proposed projects are expected to create about 100,000 jobs across farming, food processing, manufacturing, and related activities.
BL Agro anticipates that its Tanzanian operations will begin contributing meaningfully to revenue around 2030.
The investment forms part of the company’s broader international growth strategy, which seeks to combine local agricultural resources with modern processing capabilities while expanding its presence in East Africa.
However, the investment remains a planned, phased programme, with implementation dependent on project approvals and development timelines.
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