Cash crops, including cotton, coffee, tea, sisal, tobacco and cashew nuts, are the country's main export earners, although depressed prices have kept Tanzanian revenues at a static level despite increases in production. Coal, phosphates, gypsum, tin and other ores are also extracted. Reserves of uranium, nickel, silver and natural gas have been located. The Government has granted exploration licences in the hope of locating offshore deposits of oil and gas.
Tourism is one of the most important industries after mining.
Recent economic policy aims has sought to attract private sector capital through a wide-ranging privatisation programme. Liberalisation of trade and the financial sector were also implemented as part of an IMF-supported structural adjustment programme. Little headway has been made, however, in tackling Tanzania's massive external debt which remains a considerable burden on the economy. The country is a recipient of foreign aid from both bilateral and multilateral donors. Normal courtesies should be shown when visiting local business people.