Abstract:
This study evaluated the contribution of ambassadors in attracting foreign direct investments in
the Tanzania with special focus to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade and
Industry. Specifically, the study evaluated the initiatives that have been used by ambassadors
to attract FDI, determined the capacity of an ambassador can affect the inflow and quality of
FDI and examined the ambassadors cooperate with government agencies and industry
stakeholders to promote foreign direct investment. Ambassador motivation theory and Herzberg
theory of motivation were used in this study. The study used a descriptive research design, with
360 employees of the selected ministries. Respondents were chosen through simple random
and purposive sampling. Data collection included self-administered questionnaires and
interviews for primary data, supplemented by secondary data from scholarly articles. Descriptive
analysis via SPSS version 26 was applied to quantitative data, and content analysis was used
for qualitative data. The study found that ambassador initiatives play a pivotal role in positively
impacting FDI attraction, emphasizing their effective organization of trade missions. The study
found that ambassadorial skills on the quantity and quality of FDI, with well-established networks
identified as crucial contributors, underscoring the importance of diplomatic connections. The
study found that ambassadors' active collaboration with government agencies, highlighting a
concerted approach to attract FDI, with crucial coordination with industry associations
streamlining investment procedures and enhancing overall industry attractiveness. The study
recommends a thorough evaluation of effective ambassadorial initiatives for attracting FDI in
Tanzania's manufacturing industry by the government. Additionally, future research should
explore the impact of technological innovations, such as virtual diplomacy and digital
communication platforms, on the effectiveness of ambassadorial initiatives in FDI attraction.
