TPA scoops ‘Best Port Award’ in East Africa

MWANZA: THE Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) has been awarded the top prize at the 19th East African Trade Fair, held at the Furahisha grounds in Mwanza, beating over 200 other institutions in the bloc.

The country’s port authority has also emerged the best among government institutions that participated in the annual event.

Speaking during the award presentation to TPA, Minister for Industry and Trade Dr Selemani Jafo said that the award is a result of significant improvements in services at its terminals which were made possible by substantial investments in recent years.

“These achievements are a result of the excellent management by TPA, including the investments being made at the Dar es Salaam port,” said Minister Jafo at the fair, carried out under the theme “Improving the Investment and Business Environment as a Catalyst for Economic Growth.”

The event aimed to enhance business opportunities and enable East African member states to capitalise on market prospects in other regional communities, including the Southern Africa Community Development (SADC).

In his closing remarks, Minister Jafo said the government’s goal is to improve service delivery across various sectors, including road, rail and aviation infrastructure, to boost trade and economic growth.

He also noted that significant investments have been made in the ports of Dar es Salaam, Mwanza and other areas to fast track the movement of goods for both domestic and international traders, thereby stimulating economic growth.

Using the Dar es Salaam port as an example, he noted that investments have led to increased efficiency in cargo handling for more than eight landlocked countries in East, Southern and Central Africa. The port also provides a crucial freight link to the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.

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“This substantial investment has led to the availability of better services and high efficiency… this has attracted more clients due to the implementation of major projects at our ports,” said Minister Jafo.

“This investment has reduced the time required to service ships from seven days to between three and four days due to the improvements in services,” the Minister said.

He noted that the investment has also substantially reduced the waiting time for ships to enter the port’s docking site from five days to three days.

Speaking on behalf of the TPA Director General, TPA Senior Public Relations Officer, Mr Leonard Magomba, said that the authority aims to further enhance its other ports through infrastructure expansion, investment in cargo handling equipment and hiring experts to ensure they meet international service quality standards.

“Due to this significant investment, the Dar es Salaam Port can now accommodate large ships up to 300 metres in length,” said Magomba.

“This has been achieved by deepening the entrance channel and expanding the turning basin, allowing larger vessels to dock more easily,” he added.

He invited clients, stakeholders and the public to visit the TPA booth at the fair to increase their awareness of the services provided by the ports.

Magomba also encouraged businesses to continue using the country’s ports for their cargo transportation needs to benefit from the available opportunities and improved efficiency.