Kwala Port to boost trade in central corridor

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA continues to cement its position as a regional transport and logistics hub with the grand launching of Kwala International Logistics Centre in Coast region aimed at facilitating smooth clearance of cargo at the Dar es Salaam port.

Located 90 kilometres from the Dar es Salaam harbour and 15 kilometres from the Dar es Salam-Morogoro Highway, Kwala dry port covers a total area of 502 hectares which is almost five times the size of Dar es Salaam port.

The Kwala dry port is expected to significantly reduce time and transport costs for local and foreign businesspersons using the harbour to import or export cargo.

In addition, the dry port is expected to reduce traffic congestion in the city of Dar es Salaam since transit and local destined cargo trucks will now be diverted to Kwala as opposed to the current situation, where the vehicles pick and offload cargo directly at the Dar es Salaam port.

Speaking during the launching of the facility on July 31, this year, President Samia Suluhu Hassan directed the Ministry of Transport and other respective government institutions to ensure port operations at the dry port start immediately.

The new facility also seeks to be a catalyst for establishment of industries in Kwala and surrounding areas and eventually create employment opportunities for Tanzanians and boost government revenues through port services.

Dr Samia was upbeat that the launching of the facility will facilitate transport and logistic services in addition to widening business opportunities for Tanzanians and citizens of neighbouring countries.

President noted that the Kwala dry port seeks to place Tanzania as a regional transport and logistics hub in East and Central Africa as the country readies itself for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

“Kwala dry port will facilitate smooth transportation of cargo to and from DRC, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda, Malawi and Uganda and as a result will boost competitiveness of the Dar es Salaam port in the region,” she stated.

Adding, “In the future, we want port customers to order their consignment anywhere in the world and receive the same at Kwala dry port with CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight).” President Samia assured residents who turned up to witness the launching ceremony that plans are afoot to connect Kwala dry port with Tanga port which is 256 kilometres away and the envisaged Bagamoyo port which is 60 kilometres away.

The Tanzanian leader described the Kwala International Logistics Hub as an exceptional project and the first in the East African region.

“Plans are underway for construction of a deep-water port in Bagamoyo capable of handling modern vessels carrying up to 6,000 containers at a go. The new port of Bagamoyo will also be connected to Kwala dry port,” she revealed.

With the integration of rail and maritime services, cargo delivery time from Dar es Salaam port to Kampala, Uganda, is expected to reduce from between 15 and 16 days to just five to six days, she explained.

President Samia was equally impressed that the volume of cargo handled at the Dar es Salaam port has increased from 23.69 million tonnes in 2023 to 27.76 million tonnes in 2024. Likewise, the number of ships which docked at the Dar es Salaam port during the period under review increased from 1,860 to 1,990, she observed.

For his part, Tanzania’s Minister for Transport, Prof Makame Mbarawa, said the government has allocated 2.6tri/- for development projects in the transport sector. Speaking at the same occasion, Prof Mbarawa said out of the total amount, 1.11tri/- has been allocated for construction of railway infrastructure.

“We extend our appreciation to you for giving priority to the transport sector through construction of modern infrastructure such as railway which has been a significant catalyst for port services,” Prof Mbarawa told President Samia.

The Minister reaffirmed the commitment by the government in connecting land transport with ports with an objective of enhancing efficiency in loading and unloading cargo at the Dar es Salaam port.

“The transportation sector is important for day to day life of every citizen towards the vision of attaining upper middle income economy,” Prof Mbarawa pointed.

Prof Mbarawa explained further that the idea behind the establishment of Kwala dry port was based on economical, technical and social factors as well as low capacity of existing private inland container depots.

According to the minister, there were 11 private-owned inland container depots with a combined capacity to host just 24,300 containers as well as 19,100 vehicles.

The new facility will have a capacity of handling 300,000 containers per annum which is about 30 per cent of all containers handled by the Dar es Salaam port at present.

During her one-day working visit in the Coast region, the Head of State also launched Kwalaa Industrial Park and commencement of freight trains between Dar es Salaam-Morogoro-Dodoma through the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

The Kwala Industrial Park has started with seven industries while five others are in construction stage at present but plans are to establish about 200 industries at the area which are expected to create 50,000 direct jobs and 150,000 indirect jobs.

Earlier, the Director General of Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), Mr Pasduce Mbossa, told President Samia that out of the total area of 502 hectares covering Kwala dry port, 120 hectares have been cleared while 60 hectares have been fenced.

“To start with, we have constructed a hard concrete floor in an area covering five hectares which handles 3,500 containers at a go but the capacity can be increased to 5,000 containers at one time.

“At present, Kwala dry port receives 821 containers per day from the port of Dar es Salaam which handles 2,500 containers per day,” he explained.

Mr Mbossa noted further that the government of Tanzania through TPA has allocated some land at the dry port for land-linked countries which use the Dar es Salaam port transporting their exports and imports. Mr Mbossa also told President Samia that some land at the dry port has been allocated for private developers who wish to establish Inland Container Depots (ICDs).

According to the TPA’s DG, plans are underway to link the Kwala dry port through a railway line to Tanga port, the envisaged Bagamoyo port as well as Tanzania Zambia Railway (TAZARA) network which is 30 kilometres from the dry port.

Speaking at the event, DRC’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport, Mr Jean-Pierre Bemba commended Tanzania for implementation of the Kwala dry port and took the opportunity to express the readiness of his government to use the logistics facility.

Mr Bemba said the inauguration of the facility symbolises the commitment by the government of Tanzania in building a strong and sustainable economy to all member states of the central transport corridor. He went on and expressed readiness by his government in developing and operating its designated area at Kwala dry port to ease flow of cargo to and from DRC.

The DRC has been allocated 45 hectares of land at Kwala dry port and an additional 15 hectares at Katosho port in Kigoma and in return Tanzania has been allocated 60 hectares in Kasumbalesa and Kasambondo in DRC to set up dry ports.

Apart from DRC, other land-linked countries such as Burundi, Malawi, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and Zimbabwe have each been allocated between 10 and 20 hectares of land at Kwala dry port. At the same occasion, the Executive Secretary of Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA), Mr Okandju Flory, hailed the government of Tanzania for promoting regional connectivity among the seven member-states of the central corridor.

Mr Flory pointed to the fact that the Kwala dry port enhances regional connectivity by complementing the Dar es Salaam port which serves as a major gateway for the central corridor. Apart from Tanzania, other member countries of the CCTTFA include Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda.