The Minister of Finance, Dr. Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba, has thanked the government of Poland for agreeing to help fund the construction of the third and fourth parts of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project. These sections will connect Makutupora to Tabora and Tabora to Isaka.
Dr. Nchemba made this statement in Warsaw, Poland, during a meeting with Mr. Janusz Wladyczak, the CEO of Poland’s Insurance Corporation (KUKE).
The meeting was part of Dr. Nchemba’s visit to Italy, France, and Poland, which aimed to strengthen economic ties between Tanzania and these countries.
He explained that the financial support from Poland will allow Tanzania to complete the third phase of the railway, which covers 294 kilometers from Makutupora in Singida to Tabora, and the fourth phase, which covers 130 kilometers from Tabora to Isaka.
“This important project will help our country by improving trade with our neighboring countries that use the Dar es Salaam Port. It will also address the transportation gap between Dar es Salaam and Mwanza and expand the market for goods in countries such as Uganda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Dr. Nchemba said.
He also mentioned that the first and second phases of the railway (from Dar es Salaam to Makutupora) have been completed, costing $3.14 billion, and train services began in July 2024.
The remaining phases, which go towards Mwanza, are still being worked on and will cost $8.6 billion.
Dr. Nchemba said the government is looking for more funding to finish the entire project. He thanked Poland and KUKE for their support, noting that the railway will create jobs, help businesses grow, and boost the economies of the countries that will use the railway.
Additionally, Dr. Nchemba encouraged KUKE to help bring Polish investors to Tanzania to work on other important projects, especially in agriculture, energy, water, health, tourism, and infrastructure.
In response, Mr. Wladyczak said Poland is ready to help build the SGR railway and is also willing to work with Tanzania on other development projects.
He emphasized that Poland has strong expertise in agriculture, livestock, energy, and mining, and Polish investors are eager to invest in Tanzania.
Mr. Wladyczak also invited Tanzanian companies to invest in Poland, where they can benefit from the European Union’s large market.
This report was delivered by Dr. Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba, Minister of Finance, and Mr. Janusz Wladyczak, CEO of KUKE, at KUKE’s Headquarters in Warsaw, Poland.
They thanked Poland for supporting the funding of the third and fourth phases of the SGR railway project.
