Samia: Private sector’s role key in improving transport, logistics

Unguja. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has commended the private sector for its involvement in the management of Tanzania’s ports and related infrastructure, a move she said has contributed to increased government revenue.

Speaking during the international conference of the East and Central Africa Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers Associations Federation (Fiata RAME) held in Zanzibar, President Samia Hassan through a speech delivered on her behalf by Zanzibar’s Second Vice President, Mr Hemed Suleiman Abdulla—outlined key achievements recorded in the transport sector.

She said revenue from ports and customs duties rose to Sh8.26 trillion between July and February of the 2024/25 fiscal year, up from Sh7.08 trillion in the corresponding period of 2023/24. Operational costs at the Dar es Salaam Port, she added, dropped by 30 percent from Sh975 billion to Sh685.1 billion.

She added that the average waiting time for ships carrying mixed cargo and rice had dropped from 46 days to just seven, while container ship turnaround time had reduced from 10 days to three. The number of containers handled per month also rose by 47 percent, from 17,000 to 25,000.

She attributed the gains to improved cooperation between the government and stakeholders in the transport and logistics industry.

“Tanzania’s ports have become more efficient and productive, and this has translated into increased cargo throughput,” she said.

President Hassan added that Tanzania’s strategic location and close ties with Fiata member countries have enabled it to serve as a cargo gateway for more than eight countries in the Middle East and Southern Africa, supporting the exchange of goods between larger and smaller vessels.

She said the construction of the standard gauge railway (SGR) linking Dar es Salaam, Mwanza and Kigoma was ongoing, alongside the expansion of airport and road infrastructure.

In Zanzibar, the President said, the government is implementing several projects aimed at improving the transport sector, including the construction of a new passenger terminal at Pemba Airport, the renovation of Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, and the construction of roads in both urban and rural areas of Unguja and Pemba.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing the operational environment in the transport sector, saying such investment would spur economic growth through better infrastructure.

Zanzibar, she added, was being positioned as a key regional transport hub, with ongoing improvements in its infrastructure. These include the expansion of ferry and port services and the development of petroleum and gas infrastructure at Mangapwani.

Transport minister Prof Makame Mbarawa said the Fiata RAME conference focused on knowledge exchange, modern logistics techniques and enhancing sector-wide collaboration.

He noted that digital transformation and innovation would play a key role in reducing environmental impact.

The President of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (Fiata), Mr Turgut Erkeskin, applauded Tanzania for strengthening its ports and advancing the construction of the SGR, saying the investment would benefit both Tanzania and its neighbours.

The President of the Tanzania Freight Forwarders Association (Taffa), Mr Edward Urio, said Zanzibar had become a model of business integration, and underscored the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing the transport sector.

The conference closed with a strong sense of optimism over Tanzania’s transport outlook.