Tanzania has taken another step towards modernising its railway infrastructure after the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) signed a strategic partnership agreement with Italy’s FS Engineering and ITS Engineering aimed at strengthening technical cooperation, technology transfer and project delivery in the transport sector.
The agreement was signed in Rome on August 6 and witnessed by Minister for Transport Prof Makame Mbarawa at the headquarters of Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
Italy’s Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Mr Edoardo Rixi, also attended the ceremony, underscoring the growing cooperation between the two countries in infrastructure development.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by TRC Director General Mr Machibya Masanja, FS Engineering Chief Executive Officer and Director General Dr Dario Lo Bosco, and ITS Engineering Director Mr Michele Titton.
The partnership is expected to support Tanzania’s ongoing investments in railway infrastructure by providing access to international expertise in engineering, project planning and infrastructure management.
Under the agreement, FS Engineering will provide technical consultancy services, including engineering design, feasibility studies, strategic assessments and support in the implementation of railway and transport projects.
The company will also facilitate the transfer of advanced technologies in digital systems, infrastructure safety and project sustainability, areas considered critical for improving the performance and resilience of modern transport networks.
A key element of the agreement is the planned adoption of FS Engineering’s Digital Control Room, a technology platform that allows real-time monitoring of large infrastructure projects through digital tools, drones and data analytics.
Officials said the system is expected to enhance project oversight, improve implementation efficiency and strengthen safety standards while enabling faster and more informed decision-making.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, representatives of the three institutions described the agreement as an important milestone in international cooperation and expressed confidence that it would contribute to the successful delivery of strategic transport projects in Tanzania.
The partnership comes at a time when Tanzania is expanding its railway network through major investments, including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which the government sees as central to improving regional connectivity, lowering transport costs and supporting economic growth.
Analysts say collaboration with experienced international engineering firms could help accelerate the adoption of modern technologies while building local technical capacity needed to sustain large-scale infrastructure development over the long term.
