Tanzania has reinforced its position as a key transport and trade hub in Africa following continued investment in major transport corridors aimed at accelerating regional integration, boosting industrial growth and expanding cross-border trade.
Speaking during a high-level panel discussion organised by the World Bank on the sidelines of the 2026 IMF/WBG Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., Minister for Finance Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar said Tanzania is deliberately repositioning its infrastructure from traditional transport routes into fully fledged economic corridors.
He said the shift is aimed at ensuring that transport infrastructure does not only move goods across borders but also generates economic activity along the way, including industrial development, trade expansion and improved livelihoods for communities.
Ambassador Omar cited the long-standing TAZARA Railway as one of the earliest regional transport links, connecting Tanzania and Zambia since the 1970s.
He noted that while the railway has served an important transit role for decades, its wider economic potential is now being unlocked through new policy directions.
“For a long time, our corridors were mainly seen as transport routes. The new approach is to transform them into economic corridors that drive industries, services and trade. This means ensuring that both urban and rural areas along these routes benefit directly from the investments,” he said.
He added that Tanzania’s Central Corridor, which links the Port of Dar es Salaam with landlocked neighbouring countries through major lake transport systems, has significantly improved regional connectivity.
Countries such as Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan continue to benefit from the corridor as it provides access to global markets.
According to him, this development has strengthened Tanzania’s role as a gateway for East and Central Africa, positioning the country as a critical node in regional supply chains and logistics networks.
Ambassador Omar further highlighted ongoing government investment in the Standard Gauge Railway, valued at 10.2 billion US dollars.
The project is being implemented in six phases within Tanzania and is expected to extend to Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo in future phases.
He said the modern railway system is designed not only to improve transport efficiency but also to stimulate industrialisation by lowering the cost of moving goods and improving access to markets.
“This investment is closely linked to our industrialisation agenda. We want to add value to our agricultural and mineral products, strengthen manufacturing, and also boost tourism through improved accessibility,” he said.
Ambassador Omar stressed that Tanzania took proactive steps in developing regional infrastructure, rather than waiting for broader continental frameworks to take shape. He said the country recognised early on its responsibility to act as a catalyst for regional development.
On the global stage, the discussion also brought together key development partners, including the Ndiamé Diop of the World Bank, who emphasised the need to rethink transport corridors as engines of economic transformation rather than simple logistics channels.
He said experience from corridors such as the Central Corridor shows strong potential to integrate economies, create jobs and enhance competitiveness across the region.
However, he noted that the sequencing of infrastructure investment remains a challenge, particularly in balancing development between coastal and landlocked countries.
“There is need to improve coordination in how these investments are planned so that benefits are shared more equitably and realised earlier across all participating countries,” he said.
Also speaking, Zarau Wendeline Kibwe called on African countries to strengthen cooperation and knowledge-sharing in order to maximise the impact of economic corridor development.
She said infrastructure alone is not enough unless it is supported by a strong business environment that allows the private sector to fully participate and benefit from emerging opportunities.
Kibwe also stressed the importance of integrating corridor development into national development plans to ensure that investments directly contribute to long-term economic transformation and resilience.
She further highlighted the role of international financial institutions such as the African Development Bank and the World Bank in mobilising financing for large-scale infrastructure projects that support Africa’s industrialisation ambitions.
She said such partnerships are critical in addressing financing gaps while ensuring that projects are sustainable and aligned with national priorities.
Overall, the discussions underscored a growing consensus that Africa’s transport corridors must evolve into integrated economic systems that support production, trade and investment.
For Tanzania, the ongoing investments in rail, ports and regional linkages continue to strengthen its position as a strategic gateway for the continent’s eastern and central trade routes.
