DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA’S ambition to become East and Central Africa’s leading logistics and investment hub may depend less on geography than on how efficiently it converts that advantage into economic value. Bordering the Indian Ocean and serving more than six land linked countries, Tanzania already occupies one of Africa’s most strategically important trade corridors. Yet analysts say the country’s ability to maximise that position will depend on continued investment in ports, transport infrastructure and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) that improve efficiency while attracting long term capital.
Speaking during a public lecture at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Public-Private Partnership Centre (PPPC) Executive Director, Mr David Kafulila described Dar es Salaam Port as Tanzania’s equivalent of the Strait of Hormuz one of the world’s most strategically significant maritime routes because of its central role in regional commerce. “This geographical advantage is one of our greatest economic assets,” Mr Kafulila said. “We need continued investment in ports and roads so cargo arriving at Dar es Salaam reaches its destination faster and more efficiently than competing routes.” His remarks reflect growing recognition that logistics has become a major driver of economic competitiveness.
Faster cargo clearance, efficient transport corridors and lower shipping costs can attract more regional trade while encouraging investment in manufacturing, agriculture and exports. For Tanzania, the opportunity extends well beyond handling more cargo. A more efficient port would strengthen the country’s ability to compete for transit business from neighbouring landlocked economies while reducing logistics costs for domestic producers and exporters.
It would also reinforce Dar es Salaam’s role as the preferred gateway for regional supply chains at a time when East African trade continues to expand. Infrastructure, however, requires financing. With governments worldwide facing growing fiscal pressures, policymakers are increasingly looking to PPPs as a means of developing and managing strategic assets without transferring public ownership.
Mr Kafulila argued that private-sector participation should extend beyond construction financing to include operating and managing public infrastructure where specialised expertise can improve efficiency and commercial performance.…
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