Dar es Salaam. Members of the business community have expressed satisfaction with the government’s initiatives to enhance efficiency at the Dar es Salaam Port, citing reduced costs and improved service delivery as significant milestones.
Speaking during a visit to the port on January 15, business leaders said that ongoing investments have significantly lowered transport charges per container from $8,000 to $3,500, a move that has eased their cost of operations.
The chairman of the Tanzania Business Community, Mr Hamisi Livembe, said the improved efficiency would encourage more entrepreneurs to engage in trade.
“We are satisfied with the progress at this port. This step will inspire more business activities, and we thank the government for its commitment to supporting the business environment,” said Mr Livembe.
The improvements at the port, he said, have already yielded tangible results.
“In the past six months, the port has handled 12.8 million tonnes of cargo. With ongoing enhancements, we anticipate an increase in cargo volume as businesses using other ports shift their operations to Dar es Salaam,” he said.
However, Mr Livembe urged the government to prioritise expediting services at Container Terminal 2, managed by Adani International Ports Holdings, to further enhance efficiency.
The visit comes in the wake of past tensions between the business community and the government, particularly during last year’s national budget discussions.
The disagreements, which led to the temporary closure of shops in several regions, were resolved through negotiations, fostering a renewed sense of collaboration.
Acting Dar Port manager, Mr Abed Gallus, noted that ship waiting time has been reduced due to the involvement of private investors, including DP World and Adani Ports.
“Container ships now come directly without delays. The time to handle cargo has decreased from 10 days to just 3 days, which is a significant achievement,” he said.
Mr Gallus urged traders to clear their cargo promptly to create space for incoming shipments.
DP World Tanzania Public Relations Manager, Ms Elitunu Mallamia, highlighted their achievements.
“In December, we exceeded targets by handling over 25,000 vehicles and 16 vehicle ships in a single month. This is a record-breaking achievement that showcases our commitment to improved service delivery,” she said.
DP World operates berths 4-7 at the Dar es Salaam port. Jointly with Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), DP World also operates berths 0-3.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Transport, Prof Godius Kahyarara, recently told The Citizen that the port now handles around two million tonnes of cargo per month, translating to 24 million tonnes annually—a remarkable improvement from 1.2 million tonnes previously.
Prof Kahyarara also noted that vessel congestion has fallen from 40-50 ships daily to just 18.
Revenue collection at the port has also surpassed Sh1 trillion monthly for the first time.
He emphasised President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s vision to transform Tanzania into a leading transport and trade hub in Africa through a multimodal transport system integrating ports, railways and roads.
With these advancements, stakeholders are optimistic about Dar es Salaam Port’s potential to drive regional trade and economic growth.
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