HYDRO and Marine Tanzania Limited has outlined plans to invest in sea transport in Mtwara Port to other destinations in and outside the country, as part of an initiative to stimulate economic development in the region.
The plans aim at supplementing the region’s effort of opening economic opportunities by attracting investments to promote economic growth.
Executive Director of the company Mr Ignas Milanzi said the investment aims at increasing trade flows in the region.
Speaking with the ‘Daily News’ here over the weekend, Mr Milanzi said the company is set to start an operation base in Mtwara.
He said the plan is to bring over five marine vessels for transportation of goods and people via sea routes from Mtwara Port to Zanzibar, Comoro, Madagascar, Tanga and Dar es Salaam and other areas.
“We have already brought to Mtwara one vessel that can carry 12,000 tonnes of cargo. The ship is destined to ferry goods including cashew from Mtwara to various areas in and outside the country,” he said.
Mr Milanzi said the company has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with one of the business people to use the ship in ferrying cement produced by Dangote Plant in Mtwara Region.
“We have signed a two-year deal with one of the business people to use the ship in transporting Dangote cement,” he said.
Mr Milanzi called for other business people to use Mtwara Port in transporting their goods as the company plans to bring more marine vessels including a multipurpose ship to ensure efficiency.
“We promised to bring a multipurpose vessel. As I’m speaking to you, the vessel has arrived in Dar es Salaam Port and is due to arrive in Mtwara next week,” he said.
The vessel according to Mr Milanzi is set to load and transport cars, heavy trucks, caterpillar machines among other goods.
He said the vessel will be officially launched in Mtwara Port after arrival next week. Mr Milanzi said the company is also planning to bring two vessels, including a passenger ship soon after the launch of the multipurpose ship.
Mtwara Regional Commissioner Col Ahmed Abbas thanked the management of Hydro and Marine Tanzania Limited for choosing to invest in Mtwara Port, calling for other local and foreign investors to invest in the region to benefit from the huge investment made in the port of Mtwara.
Col Abbas said the government in the region has developed a grand strategic plan to attract foreign and local business investments to influence economic growth in the region.
