All set for historic launch of Kwala Dry Port today

COAST REGION: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan is today expected to officially inaugurate the eagerly awaited Kwala Dry Port that is set to transform cargo transportation from the Dar es Salaam Port, decongest the city and fast-track regional trade.

Coast Regional Commissioner (RC) Abubakar Kunenge said on Wednesday that preparations for the launch of the Dry Port, its Marshalling Yard, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) cargo service and the Kwala Industrial Park are complete.

“We are very grateful to host this important event which is going to write a new history in our country,” said Mr Kunenge during a press conference held at the Kwala Dry Port in Kibaha District, Coast Region.

The RC invited residents from nearby regions and across the country to attend the long-awaited ceremony, describing it as a milestone for both the Coast Region and the nation.

“This event means a lot to us as people of the Coast Region and to all Tanzanians because we are now becoming a centre of transportation advancement in our continent,” he added.

Last week, the RC confirmed that President Samia would visit the region on July 31 to officiate the launch of the Kwala Dry Port and flag off the SGR cargo service from Kwala to Dodoma.

“The President will officially launch the Marshalling Yard at Kwala following successful SGR cargo trials,” Mr Kunenge said, adding that the government had invested heavily in the facility to ease pressure on the Dar es Salaam Port.

ALSO READ: Kwala Industrial Zone reaches key milestone

Located in Kibaha District, the Kwala Dry Port has the capacity to handle up to 820 containers daily and 300,000 containers annually.

The facility is expected to reduce congestion at the Dar es Salaam Port by 30 per cent and decrease the number of trucks transporting cargo inland and to neighbouring countries.

Several land-linked nations, including Rwanda, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Uganda, Zimbabwe and South Sudan, have already secured space at the port’s Marshalling Yard, while Somalia and Sudan have expressed interest in operating at the facility.

Mr Kunenge also announced that President Samia will receive 160 new railway wagons for the Central Railway Line, further boosting the country’s cargo transport capacity.

Following the inauguration, the Head of State is expected to lay foundation stones for seven new factories at the Kwala Industrial Park before addressing a public rally.

“This is an international event, and we expect a large turnout of both local and international guests,” Mr Kunenge noted. Experts have welcomed the facility as a game-changer for Tanzania’s logistics and trade landscape.

Business expert Dr Sylvester Jotta from Saint Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) said in a telephone interview that the dry port will enhance cargo mobility, improve trade efficiency and promote investment across multiple sectors.

“The Kwala Dry Port will deliver critical economic benefits by alleviating congestion at the Dar es Salaam Port. This translates to time savings, reduced operational bottlenecks and more seamless cargo movement,” he said.

Dr Jotta further explained that the facility strategically positions Tanzania as a regional trade hub by offering efficient clearance services for land-linked countries such as the DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Zambia.

He added that the port will also boost government revenue through increased customs and tax collections while opening new opportunities for employment and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in transport and logistics.

Economist and investment banker Dr Hildebrand Shayo echoed these sentiments, highlighting the environmental and infrastructural benefits of using rail to transport cargo to and from Kwala.

“Each 20-container train can replace about 600 truck trips with each container averaging 25 tonnes. This shift from road to rail will reduce wear and tear on highways like the Dar– Kibaha corridor, cut down on maintenance costs and improve safety,” said Dr Shayo.

He noted that this multimodal approach will lower per-unit transport costs, enhance Tanzania’s competitiveness in regional trade and cement Kwala’s position as a key logistics hub along the Central Corridor.

Dr Shayo also revealed that Kwala has already been designated a strategic dry port under an agreement between Tanzania and the DRC, enhancing bilateral trade and reinforcing Tanzania’s role in intra-African commerce.

“This aligns with the goals of the newly launched Tanzania Development Vision 2050, particularly in trade facilitation and revenue generation,” he added.

Professor Humphrey Moshi, Founding Director of the Centre for Chinese Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam, emphasised the productivity gains expected from reduced port congestion.