Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have successfully concluded negotiations for the transfer of land designated for dry port infrastructure development. This initiative is part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at amplifying regional trade.
The Tanzanian government revealed that this decision comes in response to a remarkable 180 percent surge in cargo destined for the DRC via Dar es Salaam Port over the last four years. This increase underscores the critical need for investment in essential supporting infrastructure, particularly dry ports.
In 2022, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her DRC counterpart Félix Tshisekedi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on the cooperative development of transportation infrastructure.
During a significant event in Lubumbashi, DRC, the Ministry of Transport’s Permanent Secretary, Prof Godius Kahyarara, hailed the agreement as a landmark achievement in executing the 2022 bilateral infrastructure development accord.
Under the terms of this agreement, Tanzania will acquire land for dry port construction in strategic locations such as Kasumbalesa, Kasenga, and Kalemie in the DRC, while the DRC will receive designated dry port sites in Kwala Coast and Katosho, within Tanzania’s Kigoma Region.
The initiative is aimed at enhancing trade and increasing cargo transport efficiency via Dar es Salaam Port. The dry port project, expected to be completed within the next 18 months, will operate under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework, with a significant portion of transportation, particularly for the mining sector, managed by private companies while the government supervises other areas.
Currently, the DRC is identified as the largest user of Dar es Salaam Port among neighboring nations. Prof Kahyarara stated that due to reforms introduced by the sixth-phase government, cargo volumes heading to the DRC have soared by over 180 percent.
"The increase has created an urgent necessity for substantial investments in enabling infrastructure, including dry ports both domestically and across borders,” he noted.
He further reported that total cargo volume at the port has doubled from 14 million to 28 million tonnes over the past four years, reinforcing the urgent call for port infrastructure expansion.
The government’s strategy also encompasses enhancing the number of berths and expanding port facilities in Kalemie (DRC), Kigoma, and Kalemie (Tanzania).
Both Tanzania and DRC are integral to the Central Corridor, a pivotal trade and transport route connecting seven nations, with the primary objective of easing the flow of goods by strengthening infrastructure across road, rail, water, and air transport sectors.
