TANZANIA: REGIONAL and international leaders have commended Tanzania for its unwavering commitment to implementing transformative transport infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing Africa’s connectivity.

The strategic initiatives include the Kwala Dry Port and the ongoing construction of the electric Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), both of which are key to accelerating the movement of goods and services, boosting cross-border trade, and fostering socio-economic integration across the continent.

Speaking during the inauguration of the Kwala Dry Port held on Thursday in Coast Region, Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA), Executive Secretary Mr Okandju Flory, applauded the Tanzanian government for its result-oriented leadership in promoting regional connectivity, multimodal transport efficiency, and trade facilitation among the seven Central Corridor member states.

“Through this strategic investment, Tanzania continues to position itself as a vital and costeffective gateway to the regional market,” he said.

The CCTTFA member states include Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. He noted that the Kwala Dry Port enhances regional connectivity by complementing the Dar es Salaam Port, which serves as the gateway of the Central Corridor.

The Dar es Salaam Port serves about eight land-linked countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia. To complement Tanzania’s efforts, Mr Flory said the CCTTFA recently supported the Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) in rehabilitating 20 flatbed wagons at a cost of 1bn/-, thereby boosting the corporation’s cargo handling capacity along the Central Corridor.

He said the 20 wagons have capacity of carrying 800 tonnes of cargo at once thereby reducing pressure on regional road networks. Furthermore, he said the CCTTFA has been promoting economic diplomacy by facilitating the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi’s presence at the Kwala Dry Port and Isaka Dry Port in Tanzania.

Mr Flory said the central corridor agency also is coordinating joint efforts for development of the electric SGR project to connect Tanzania and Burundi. He pointed out that CCTTFA facilitates feasibility study for Burundi and the DRC electric SGR’s sections.

World Food Programme’s (WFP) Country Director and Representative, Mr Ronald Tran Ba Huy said the inauguration of the Kwala international logistics hub is the key step forward to upgrade transport via the Dar Es Salaam Port, which will improve cargo flow in the inland-neighbouring countries. In a related development, he thanked the government of Tanzania for providing a special designated warehouse at the Dar es Salaam Port since in the early 1990s.

In that regard, he extended WFP’s appreciation to Tanzania for the long-standing partnership in facilitating transport of humanitarian food within Tanzania and neighbouring countries including the DRC, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda, South Sudan, Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania “Let us carry forward the spirit of collaboration and innovation.

Together we can build more resilient, efficient and inclusive logistics cycle system, one that not only support humanitarian efforts but also drive sustainable development across the region,” Mr Huy said.

Meanwhile, The DRC Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport, Mr Jean-Pierre Bemba commended Dodoma for implementing the Kwala Dry Port Project while expressing Kinshasa readiness to use the logistics facility to achieve the desired outcomes.The inauguration of the Kwala international logistics hub symbolises the government of Tanzania’s commitment to sparing no effort in building strong and sustainable economy to all the member states of the central corridor,” Mr Bemba said.

He said the launch revitalised the DRC’s pace to develop and operationalise its designated areas at the Kwala Dry Port to ease flow of its cargo and trade at large. Bemba said the dry port offers tremendous economic benefits including attracting Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in DRC consolidate fight against mineral frauds and create jobs for Congolese.