KWALA DRY PORT LAUNCH: Logistics reforms, big relief

COAST REGION: AS President Samia Suluhu Hassan prepares to officially launch the highly anticipated Kwala Dry Port on July 31 in the Coast Region, economic analysts and logistics stakeholders are expressing strong optimism.

They believe the development will significantly reduce haulage costs, decongest the Dar es Salaam Port and boost regional trade.

Welcoming the milestone, experts have described the facility as a game-changer in Tanzania’s logistics and trade landscape.

Business expert Dr Sylvester Jotta from Saint Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) told the Daily News in a telephone interview that the dry port would improve cargo mobility, enhance 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,” Dr Jotta noted.

He further explained that the facility strategically positions Tanzania as a regional trade hub by offering efficient clearance services for landlinked countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Zambia.

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

“It will create jobs in customs processing, warehousing, freight handling and related logistics services,” he added.

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

“Each 20-container train can replace about 600 truck trips monthly, 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 added that the shift promotes multimodal logistics, reduces per-unit transportation costs and enhances Tanzania’s competitiveness in regional trade.

“Kwala’s inland location and integration with rail and road networks make it a key logistics hub, especially along the Central Corridor,” he noted.

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

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

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

However, he advised that further expansion of Tanzania’s transport network, especially railways, is essential to prevent road damage from heavy trucks.

He also called for better rural-urban connectivity to strengthen the logistics value chain from producers to consumers.

Coast Regional Commissioner, Mr Abubakar Kunenge confirmed that President Samia will visit the region on July 31 for the official launch of the Kwala Dry Port.

The President will also flag off the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) cargo service from Kwala to Dodoma.

“The President will officially launch the Marshalling Yard at Kwala following successful SGR cargo trials,” Mr Kunenge told journalists at a press briefing. He said the government had invested heavily in the dry port to ease pressure on the Dar es Salaam Port.

Located in Kibaha District, the Kwala Dry Port can 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 to upcountry and neighbouring countries.

Several land-linked nations, including Rwanda, Zambia, DRC, Malawi, Uganda, Zimbabwe and South Sudan have already secured space at the port’s Marshalling Yard. Mr Kunenge added that Somalia and Sudan have also expressed interest in operating at the facility.

He also announced that President Samia will receive 160 new railway wagons for the Central Railway Line, further strengthening Tanzania’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 said.