The Minister for Transport of the United Republic of Tanzania, Makame Mbarawa, has underscored the growing transport cooperation between Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), noting that the DRC remains one of Tanzania’s key partners in cargo transportation through the Port of Dar es Salaam.
Speaking in Kinshasa during the signing ceremony of the development and operation agreement for the Kwala Dry Port between the Government of the DRC and Boston Developers Ltd from Dubai, held on March 12, 2026, Prof. Mbarawa said the transport partnership between the two nations has continued to expand in tandem with the increasing volume of trade within the East and Central African region.
According to Prof. Mbarawa, statistics show that cargo volumes transported between Tanzania and the DRC have significantly increased from 2.95 million tonnes in the 2021/2022 financial year to 5.995 million tonnes in the 2024/2025 financial year.
He noted that this growth reflects the increasing confidence of the DRC in utilizing Tanzania’s transport infrastructure as a gateway to international markets.
From an economic perspective, infrastructure analysts observe that the growing cargo volumes highlight Tanzania’s emerging strategic position as a regional logistics hub.
The DRC, endowed with vast natural resources including minerals and other export commodities, relies heavily on efficient transport corridors to access global markets.
As such, Tanzania’s transport network offers an essential trade route that benefits not only the DRC but also Tanzania’s economy through port revenues, railway services and related logistics operations.
Prof. Mbarawa explained that in response to the rising cargo demand, the Government of Tanzania continues to invest heavily in transport infrastructure, including the expansion of port facilities, the construction of the modern Standard Gauge Railway, and the development of inland dry ports aimed at improving efficiency in cargo handling and regional connectivity.
He further noted that these investments will strengthen trade within the Central Corridor Transport Corridor, which links several East and Central African countries to the Indian Ocean through Tanzania. Transport experts argue that strengthening this corridor is positioning Tanzania as a key gateway for regional and continental trade.
“This project demonstrates what neighboring countries can achieve through cooperation in strengthening infrastructure connectivity, unlocking economic opportunities and accelerating shared development across our region,” Prof. Mbarawa emphasized.
On his part, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications of the DRC, Jean-Pierre Bemba, said the Kwala Dry Port development and operational project, valued at 300 million US dollars, will significantly improve cargo transportation for goods destined to and from the DRC through Tanzania’s transport infrastructure.
He added that the project will reduce logistical bottlenecks and enhance efficiency within the supply chain, ultimately boosting trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
From a broader regional development perspective, analysts note that projects of this nature play a critical role in integrating African economies by strengthening infrastructure that facilitates cross-border trade. Such initiatives also align with the continent’s wider economic integration agenda aimed at expanding intra-African trade.
The establishment of the Kwala Dry Port dedicated to serving cargo destined for the DRC is therefore seen as a major milestone in Tanzania’s ambition to position itself as a leading trade gateway for landlocked countries across Africa while enhancing the competitiveness of its transport infrastructure in the global logistics network.
