Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have entered into a landmark agreement to develop dry ports in both countries, in a move expected to boost cross-border trade and ease pressure on coastal terminals.
Signed over the weekend in Lubumbashi, the deal commits each country to allocate land for the construction of inland port facilities, aiming to streamline cargo movement and enhance logistics connectivity across the region.
Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Godious Kahyarara, said the initiative is driven by a dramatic surge in cargo volumes. Goods shipped through the port of Dar es Salaam to the DRC have jumped by 180 percent over the past four years.
“This agreement marks a significant milestone in the infrastructure cooperation between our two nations,” Kahyarara said. “It builds on the framework we established in 2022 and responds directly to the growing demand for faster, more efficient cargo handling.”
As part of the deal, Tanzania will establish dry ports in three DRC towns—Kasumbalesa, Kasenga, and Kalemie. In return, the DRC will receive land in Kwala and Katosho, both in Tanzania, to develop its own inland logistics hubs.
The project will be implemented through a public-private partnership model and is expected to be completed within 18 months.
Officials from both sides say the dry ports will reduce congestion at maritime gateways, lower transportation costs, and unlock new trade opportunities across East and Central Africa.