Dar es Salaam – December 6^th, 2016 Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) and TradeMark Africa (TMA) have today signed an MOU worth USD 62 million. The support is intended to transform Dar port into a modern port through improving the operational and spatial efficiency and increase handling capacity to the level agreed upon under Tanzania Ports Masterplan.

Dar Es Salaam port handles approximately 90% of Tanzania’s seaborne import and export volume. It is the gateway to global trade and serves as a transit port for Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and Malawi. Traffic at Dar port is projected to increase from a throughput of 13.5 million tonnes in 2013 to 28 million tonnes in 2028, with container throughput increasing from 577,047 TEUs handled in 2013 up to 1,138,000 TEUs in 2018 and 3,226,000 TEUs in 2028.

TMA Tanzania Country Director, John Ulanga, said “Dar Port is a major trade gateway for Tanzania and the region and that’s why TMA has continued to invest in improvement of its infrastructure, productivity and Port reforms”

TMA’s support will specifically support the following areas:

1. The improvement of the port infrastructure: Removal and relocation of sheds (2-7 and import Improvements of roads to gates 4,5 &8;News scanners for exit gates 4 & 8 and relocation of gate 5 entry scanner ;Bathymetric, hydrodynamic and geo-tech surveys & feasibility study of dredging channel and basin.
2. Port productivity: Productivity improvement plan; strengthening operating procedures; implementing the new cost accounting.
3. Port reform Dialogue and Process: Transaction advisory services; Landlord strategy assessment; Landlord skills needs assessment; Dar Port reform dialogue- port charter; PPP capacity development.

According to the TPA Director General, Engineer Deusdedit Kakoko, “The shape of infrastructure in the port is changing very quickly, thanks to TMA for funding the improvement of the port, you can see these changes as soon as you enter our port, the roads and gates have now been improved and this will enhance the capacity of our Port to handle more cargo “

These interventions will enable Dar Port to increase its capacity in container trade, bulk shipping and improve efficiency in handling cargo and ships and gradually transform into land lord managing operations carried out by private sector at higher levels of efficiency and requisite investment.

The Head of UKAid in Tanzania, Vale Gnanendran remarked “DFID is committed to improving the livelihood of Tanzanians through enhancement of the capacity of Dar port and trade corridors to handle more import and export volumes in Tanzania.”

TradeMark Africa (TMA) is an aid-for-trade organisation that was established with the aim of growing prosperity in East Africa through increased trade. TradeMark Africa (TMA) operates on a not-for-profit basis and is funded by the development agencies of the following countries: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, UK, and USA. TradeMark Africa (TMA) works closely with East African Community (EAC) institutions, national governments, the private sector and civil society organisations.