The growing competition between Tanzania and Kenya for a profitable and expanded port market has led Tanzania to offer exclusive transit clearance for goods in order to attract more port businesses from neighbouring countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In order to evaluate the offerings and the business environment, including tariffs and clearance times, a delegation of businessmen from the DRC with interest in the port visited the ports in Tanga and Dar-es-Salaam. The delegation was accompanied by a delegation that included customs officers and some top officials.
A 10-hectare section at the Kwala Dry Port in Tanzania is designated for handling DRC cargoes moved through Dar es Salaam to other parts of Africa. The port of Mombasa in Kenya receives most of the cargo headed towards the eastern parts of the DRC. The newly renovated Dar port in Tanzania and the brand-new Tanga Port are anticipated to intensify competition.
According to Alexander Ndibalema, Property Manager for Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), the dry port outside of Dar es Salaam would cut traffic there by 30% and boost government revenue from the goods handled at the port. Cars and other solid imports will be handled there, largely in transit to Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Zambia, and Malawi.
TPA estimates that the port of Dar es Salaam handled about three million metric tonnes of transit cargo from the DR Congo.
Masimango stated on Monday in Dar, “We have come to see its performance, and we have seen the great work and good arrangement of the port.”
Said Juma Mshana, Tanzania’s ambassador to the DR Congo, claims that the goal of the Congolese delegation’s visit is to increase trade between the two nations’ neighbours.
Shipping and transport firms from the Democratic Republic of the Congo use the ports of Dar es Salaam and Tanga on the Indian Ocean, as well as Kibirizi, Kasanga, and Karemaport on Tanzania’s Lake Tanganyika.
Shipping and transport firms from the Democratic Republic of the Congo use the ports of Dar es Salaam and Tanga on the Indian Ocean, as well as Kibirizi, Kasanga, and Karemaport on Tanzania’s Lake Tanganyika.
Karema has been updated to handle the transit cargo from the DRC in order to reduce the time spent in Zambia.
It will speed the transfer of goods on the Zambia route since it currently takes up to two weeks for transit cargo to be cleared at its ultimate destinations in the DRC.
The state-owned Lignes Maritimes Congolaises, DRC, has constructed a liaison office at the Dar port to assist with the development and management of its new shipping line. This development is expected to intensify cargo competition and advance port growth within the region.
