Projects to boost regional integration
DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA has outlined a robust infrastructure agenda designed to strengthen regional trade and integration through the Central Corridor.
The Minister for Transport, Prof Makame Mbarawa, said on Wednesday when welcoming the high-level delegates from DRC, Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia and others, that Tanzania is com mitted to modernising transport infrastructure to meet growing regional demands.
“These investments reflect our broader vision to make the Central Corridor more efficient and cost-effective for both passengers and cargo,” Prof Mbarawa said, pinpointing Tanzania’s strategic role in connecting the region. The plans were unveiled during the 14th Ordinary Meeting of the Interstate Council of Ministers of the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA), held in Dar es Salaam.
2025. Tanzania’s strategy centres on the Standard Gauge Rail way (SGR), which has already transported over two million passengers between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma and is set to launch cargo services by next month, supported by 1,430 procured freight wagons 264 already delivered to position the country as a regional freight transit hub.
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Also, discussions are ongo in inland water transport with vessel rehabilitations and new builds on Lakes Tanganyika and Victoria.
Zambia’s ing to revamp the Tanzania Zambia Railway (TAZARA). The upgrade is projected to raise freight capacity from 400,000 to 2.4 million metric tonnes annually, significantly enhancing cross-border trade efficiency.
Tanzania has improved efficiency at the Port of Dar es Salaam reducing congestion despite rising volumes through partnerships with DP World and Adani Group and rail up grades, while also investing Minister for Transport and Logistics, Frank Tayali, highlighted the importance of enhanced rail connectivity for land-linked countries like Zambia, where transport costs remain a major barrier to trade.
“The region is now speak ing with one voice. This collaboration will strengthen our TANZANIA Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Internal Auditor Ronnie Mwaipasi speaks during a panel at the African Development Bank (AfDB) VAT Digitalisation Seminar in Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday.
On the left is Rwanda Chamber of Commerce ICT Officer Hestia Irangabiye and Rwanda Chamber of Commerce and AfDB’s Kayalu Gabre-Selassie. (Photo by a Correspondent) Briefs ability to move goods, reduce costs and uplift the lives of our people,” he said.
Tayali congratulated Malawi on assuming the CCTTFA chairmanship and praised Tanzania’s decision to allocate land for a permanent eight-storey headquarters for the agency.
Malawi’s Minister for Transport, Jacob Hara, said member states must enhance collaboration to unlock the full potential of the Central Corridor.
“We must strengthen our unity and work together to improve infrastructure and transport systems that are vi tal to our economic growth,” said Hara, after taking over the CCTTFA chairmanship from the DRC.
He also said Malawi re mains committed to supporting the establishment of the Cen tral Corridor Secretariat office, which will coordinate regional transport policies and infra structure development.
