Govt widens scope of trade centre project

Export Processing Zones Authority director general Joseph Simbakalia speaks to Chinese diplomat Li Xuhang two years ago. The discussed how the two countries could ooperate in promoting investments in Tanzania’s special economic zones. PHOTO|FILE

What you need to know:

  • The Export Processing Zones Authority is seeking a competent partner to develop 248,000sq metres at Kurasini in Temeke

Dar es Salaam. The government is looking for a developer of Dar es Salaam’s Kurasini Trade and Logistic Centre at Shimo la Udongo who will also build its infrastructure.

Initially, the focus was only on developing the centre.

According to the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) director general Joseph Simbakalia, unlike the current EPZA process whose infrastructure that was developed by the government, now only land will be provided by the government and investors develop infrastructure and develop core projects.

He told The Citizen that EPZA was seeking a competent partner to develop 248,000sq metres at Kurasini in Temeke.

He noted the process started after the government completed compensated Kurasini residents Sh53 billion ($31.8 million) last year.

The government has invited local and foreign investors to invest in the project and received several responses.

He declined to mention companies that had shown interest in the project on grounds that the process was still in its early stages.

“At least six companies have shown interest and the process of identifying the developer has started.” The tender was opened last month.

According to him, the project will entail constructing assembly plants, warehouses and distribution facilities as well as provision of commercial and logistic support services to facilitate trade.

A one-stop-service centre will constructed to house its own staff and those of other institutions such as the Tanzania Revenue Authority, Immigration Department, Labour, Tanzania Bureau of Standards, Tanzania Food and Drug

Authority and Tanzania Trade Development Authority.

The private developer would also be required to assume primary responsibility for marketing and searching for investors who would set up factory warehouses, assembly plants for Completely

Knocked Down and Semi-Knocked Down kits.

It would also set up processing and packaging facilities, production facilities for jewellery, pharmaceutical, garments, leather products and other items of apparel, assembly facilities for electronic goods, machinery, vehicles, equipment and other consumer durables.

It is expected that the plants will produce high-quality goods for sale Eastern, Central and Southern Africa.

Talks about the project began when China expressed a desire to start trade hubs in four African countries during the Sino‐African Cooperation meeting held in Cairo in 2009. Eventually, Tanzania was chosen for a start.

The completion of the project will add tremendous value to Tanzania, creating more than 125,000 jobs – 25,000 of them direct.