Swissport cold facility to boost perishable exports
KILIMANJARO: SWISSPORT Tanzania has opened a 630-square-metre temperaturecontrolled cargo facility at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), strengthening the country’s capacity to handle pharmaceutical products and perishable exports for international markets.
The facility will handle temperature-sensitive goods, including vaccines, seafood, meat, honey, flowers and other agricultural products, as Tanzania seeks to expand its participation in global supply chains. Swissport’s Head of Africa, Christian Zweifel, said the investment would improve the speed and reliability of international deliveries while strengthening Tanzania’s position in global life-sciences and perishable-goods markets.
“The availability of this landmark temperature-controlled cold storage facility will also speed up international delivery for Tanzanian-produced seafood, meat, honey, flowers and other agricultural products,” Mr Zweifel said.
He said the facility reflected cooperation between the government and Swissport, combining Tanzania’s infrastructure development objectives with the company’s commercial cargo-handling expertise.
Tanzania Airports Authority Managing Director Abdul Mombokaleo said the facility would strengthen cold-chain logistics in the northern zone and help meet growing international demand for Tanzania’s fresh produce. Strategically located at KIA, a key gateway for tourists entering the country, the facility will support cargo routes linking domestic producers with international markets, he said.
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Mr Mombokaleo said the facility would minimise supply-chain delays and product losses through precise climate monitoring while supporting faster access to global markets.
Swissport Tanzania Interim Managing Director Joshua Jonas said the facility could accommodate cargo from five aircraft at a time, boosting cross-border cold-chain trade and strengthening the northern zone’s air-cargo distribution network.
Swissport Board Member Raymond Mbilinyi said the facility would help exporters and importers reduce storage, transportation and handling costs.
The KIA facility is Swissport’s second temperature-controlled storage investment in Tanzania, following another facility at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.
