In yet another ports development for East Africa, it has been reported that Europe’s second-biggest port, Antwerp, is about to come on board in a partnership with Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) with the aim of improving efficiencies at the Port of Dar es Salaam.
Whereas Dar was once one of the most corrupt and delay-ridden ports in Africa, improvements have significantly contributed to increasing volume traded on its corridor link with the Copperbelt in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Last week, Mike Fitzmaurice, Chief Executive of the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations, said volume on the Dar Corridor had grown by 25% in recent times.
He said whereas the Nakonde hinterland border between Zambia and Tanzania used to handle just over 530 trucks a day on the corridor, that figure had bumped up to 750.
And although the partnership between Belgium and Tanzania is only mooted at this stage, it’s a fait accompli if remarks made by Antwerp port’s managing director are anything to go by.
On a visit to Dar port’s facilities yesterday, Kristof Wagterschoot said: “We are looking forward to making a win-win partnership with the TPA.”
TPA Deputy Director-General, Eng Kijavara, has in turn indicated that Dar port is keen to grow through learning from Antwerp’s expertise about ICT, port facilities and training.
The port already seems to be on the right track as it has recorded strong figures during a difficult time – 2021, a Covid year.
Throughput at Dar from this period into 2022, grew to 7 801 495, a vast improvement from the 5 566 242 recorded in 2019/2020.
Belgium’s fact-finding look-see around Dar port is an interesting addition to the progressive growth developments under the presidency of Samia Suluhu Hassan.
In August it was reported that logistics behemoth, Ningbo Zhousan Port Co, would be investing US$740 million in building land-side facilities at the Bagamoyo Special Economic Zone on the Zanzibar channel north of Dar (*).
At face value, Ningbo seems a much likelier fit for Tanzania, especially considering China’s involvement in developing port and hinterland infrastructure all along the East African coast.
Nevertheless, Belgium’s interest in the Port of Dar es Salaam is all good for Tanzania – another sign that the country is driving hard at competing with Kenya to become a gateway into the region.
It brings to mind what Duncan Bonnett, Director at trade consultancy, Africa House, has said in the past: that South Africa should stop deluding itself thinking it’s a gateway into sub-Saharan Africa.
It’s not, he has said on numerous occasions.
The logistical progress made by many of South Africa’s competitors, seen against the backdrop of serious transport impediments experienced down south, means that countries like Tanzania have become gateway countries in their own right.
* Read this for context: https://tinyurl.com/bp5dbx87
