CCTTFA

The Governments of Tanzania and DRC have reaffirmed their strong commitment to advancing regional integration and trade through the development of modern transport infrastructure. During the 2nd High-Level Steering Committee Meeting on the implementation of the Transport Infrastructure Development Program for strengthening Trade between the United Republic of Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo held in Kigoma on 18 March 2026, following the Joint Technical Experts Meeting, significant progress was recorded across key sectors including dry ports development, rail infrastructure, maritime transport, roads, and air connectivity. The meeting also addressed critical challenges and endorsed strategic actions to accelerate implementation, strengthen partnerships, and enhance coordination between the two countries. The Central Corridor continues to play a central role in facilitating this collaboration and advancing the shared vision of efficient, interconnected transport systems to reduce logistics costs and support economic growth. The session concluded with site visits to the Port of Kigoma and Kigoma Airport to assess ongoing infrastructure developments.

On behalf of the Central Corridor, I extend our warmest congratulations to the Governments of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Uganda on the successful signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the development of a cross-border railway linking western Uganda to Tanzania’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) network and the Port of Dar es Salaam. The MoU was signed on Friday 13th March 2026 on the margin of the Tanzania-Uganda Joint Permanent Commission meeting held in Dar es Salaam. The proposed railway would extend from Isaka in northwestern Tanzania, where the Dar es Salaam–Mwanza SGR terminates, crossing into Uganda at Kikagati before continuing through Mbarara, Bihanga and Kasese to Mpondwe at the DRC border. This important milestone reflects the strong commitment of both Governments to deepen regional integration, enhance trade facilitation, and strengthen sustainable transport infrastructure across the Central Corridor. The Central Corridor remains committed to supporting initiatives that advance regional connectivity and unlock new opportunities for trade, investment, and shared prosperity across the region.

Yesterday, 12 March 2026, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), I had the honour of witnessing the signing of the Concession Contract between the Government of the DRC and Boston Developers Ltd for the development of the 45-hectare DRC Dry Port at Kwala in Tanzania. The contract was signed by H.E. Jean Pierre Bemba, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Ways of Communication and Opening Up on behalf of the Government of the DRC, and Mr. Nilax Bhatt, CEO of Boston Developers Ltd, marking the official launch of the project’s implementation. The project will establish a dedicated logistics platform for the DRC within the 502-hectare Kwala Dry Port complex in Kibaha District, Coast Region of Tanzania, about 60 km from the Port of Dar es Salaam. Once operational, the facility will serve as an inland logistics hub for Congolese cargo, helping reduce congestion at the Port of Dar es Salaam while improving cargo clearance and transportation to the eastern and southern regions of the DRC. Developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the project will be financed and operated by Boston Developers Ltd, and represents an important step in strengthening trade and logistics along the Central Corridor.

Adv. Flory Okandju, Executive Secretary of the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA), was among the invited guests at the foundation stone-laying ceremony officiated by H.E. President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan for the construction of a Mega Oil Receiving and 15 Storage Tanks Project at the Port of Dar es Salaam, Kigamboni. The multi-trillion shillings facility, to be owned and managed by the Tanzania Ports Authority, marks a significant milestone in Tanzania’s maritime and energy sector development. This strategic investment will significantly strengthen the Port of Dar es Salaam’s capacity as a key regional gateway and improve the efficiency of petroleum imports and storage, supporting Tanzania and neighbouring land-linked countries served by the Central Corridor.

In Dar es Salaam, the Central Corridor, in collaboration with the Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania in the Democratic Republic of Congo, organized a high-level business meeting between the delegation of H.E. the Governor of Maniema Province, the Tanzania Private Sector Federation (TPSF), and the Tanzania National Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TNCCIA). The meeting provided a strategic platform for engagement with private sector leaders and business associations to present and discuss investment, trade, and infrastructure development opportunities in Maniema Province, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania. Particular emphasis was placed on opportunities linked to the Central Corridor and the Tripartite Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project connecting Tanzania, Burundi, and the DRC. The meeting is part of the series of engagement during the working visit of the Maniema Governor in Tanzania from 23rd to 26thnFebruary 2026 which will among others provide an opportunity to engage with government authorities, public and private sector stakeholders, and business groups to present and discuss investment, trade, and infrastructure development opportunities in Maniema Province in DRC which directly contributes to the Central Corridor’s broader efforts to enhance trade facilitation, strengthen economic cooperation, and increase bilateral trade flows between Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, thereby supporting sustainable economic growth and regional integration.

The Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA) delegation, led by the Executive Secretary Adv. Flory Okandju @FloryOKANDJU , participated in the two-day Tanzania Trade and Logistics Forum 2026, organized by the Tanzania Freight Forwarders Representation in Dubai (TANFORD) and held from 13–14 February 2026 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. During the forum, CCTTFA shared insights on business and investment opportunities across Central Corridor Member States, contributing to discussions under the theme “Optimizing Transit Trade and Corridor Efficiency for Landlocked Countries.” The intervention emphasized ongoing and planned infrastructure development, trade facilitation reforms, and logistics efficiency measures aimed at strengthening regional and international connectivity

Adv. Flory Okandju @FloryOKANDJU , accompanied by the Central Corridor experts, undertook a working visit to Bukoba Port and Kemondo Bay Port. The visit provided an opportunity to assess the operational status, infrastructure development needs, and service delivery capacity of the two strategic ports located on Lake Victoria. They interacted with port authorities and key stakeholders to better understand current challenges and explore avenues for improving efficiency in maritime transport services.

MV New Mwanza

As part of his ongoing working visit to Mwanza, the Executive Secretary of the Central Corridor, together with a delegation from the Central Corridor Secretariat, conducted visits to several strategic transport and logistics infrastructure projects in the region. The delegation toured the Mwanza marine facility, where the Executive Secretary reviewed ongoing initiatives aimed at enhancing maritime operations and improving the efficiency of lake transport services. They also visited the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) construction site to observe progress on this transformative project, which is expected to significantly strengthen regional connectivity and facilitate trade across the corridor. In addition, the team inspected the newly commissioned MV New Mwanza, a modern vessel poised to boost commercial operations on Lake Victoria and reinforce maritime links between key ports in East Africa.

On 23.01.2026, the Executive Secretary of the Central Corridor, Adv. @FloryOKANDJU witnessed the official commissioning of MV New Mwanza, a modern vessel launched for commercial operations on Lake Victoria. The USD 50 million mega vessel, among the most advanced in East Africa, is designed to strengthen regional maritime transport by linking key ports, including Port Bell (Uganda) and Kisumu Port (Kenya). The commissioning ceremony was officiated by Rt. Hon. Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba, Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, and attended by senior government officials, regional leaders, and development partners. The MV New Mwanza is expected to enhance regional trade, improve transport efficiency, and significantly strengthen maritime connectivity across Lake Victoria.

From 22-23 January 2026, the Central Corridor with support from TradeMark @TradeMarkAfrica Africa, convened a Stakeholder Engagement Meeting in Dar es Salaam focused on reinforcing the security of people and goods along the Lubumbashi-Tunduma route.

Yesterday in Mombasa - Kenya, I signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency @ccttfaorg and the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority @NorthernCoridor with my counterpart Executive Secretary, Dr. John Deng Diar Diing. This strategic partnership strengthens coordination between Africa’s two key regional corridors, focusing on multimodal connectivity, green economic development corridors, digitalization, trade facilitation, and infrastructure integration. With four shared Member States among the two corridors, the cooperation will enhance efficiency, reduces trade costs, and accelerates regional integration and sustainable economic growth aligning with continental and global priorities, including the @AfCFTA Agenda, @_AfricanUnion Agenda 2063, @SDG2030, reinforcing the role of corridor cooperation in reducing logistics costs, lowering emissions, and strengthening regional value chains. Our focus now is implementation, translating this cooperation into practical, results-oriented impact for governments, the private sector, and corridor users.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.🎄

Dissemination of findings on the Transformation of the Railway Sector in Africa, a key step towards shifting road traffic to rail.

On 11 December 2025 in Dar es Salaam, the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency officially disseminated the findings of the Study on the Transformation of the Railway Sector in Africa, a major step towards shifting freight traffic from road to rail. With support from the African Development Bank @AfDB_Group , CCTTFA secured a €1.51 million grant from the Government of Spain to identify priority reforms and investments needed to modernize railways and strengthen regional corridors. The study, conducted by ALG Global Infrastructure Advisors, covered 15 African countries, including DRC, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Members of the Board of Directors and experts commended CCTTFA’s catalytic role in supporting railway construction, rehabilitation, modernization, and regional coordination, key drivers for improved logistics competitiveness, regional integration, and sustainable economic growth.

Ongoing in Dar es Salaam, the 29th Central Corridor Ordinary Board of Directors meeting.

Happy Independence Day to our Tanzanian brothers and sisters.🇹🇿