CCTTFA hails Samia’s vision for regional transport transformation

Kwala, Coast Region. The Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA) has commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her visionary leadership that is steadily turning Tanzania into a premier regional transport and logistics hub.

Speaking during the official launch of the Kwala Dry Port in Coast Region, CCTTFA Executive Secretary Advocate Okandju Okonge Flory described the infrastructure as a game-changer not only for Tanzania but for land-linked countries dependent on the Central Corridor for trade.

“The launch of this dry port is a reflection of President Samia’s pragmatic and transformative leadership. Tanzania is emerging not only as a gateway to regional trade but also as a model for sustainable and multimodal transport systems in Africa,” said Mr Okonge.

The Central Corridor connects Tanzania to Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and eastern DRC, and has in recent years attracted renewed investment and coordination, largely driven by major infrastructure projects such as the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the Kwala Logistics Hub.

Mr Okonge revealed that the agency recently supported the Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) by rehabilitating 20 flatbed wagons at a cost of Sh1 billion. The upgraded wagons, capable of carrying 800 tonnes of cargo, are expected to ease pressure on regional roads while enhancing freight efficiency.

He also noted that the agency is supporting the development of dedicated dry ports within Tanzania for Burundi, Rwanda and the DRC. Construction of Burundi’s dry port at Kwala is currently underway, while discussions with investors for Rwanda and DRC facilities in Kwala and Isaka are progressing.

“The dry port initiative opens new trade opportunities for our member states. It provides landlocked countries direct access to world markets through Tanzanian ports, cutting costs and improving turnaround time,” Mr Okonge said.

He further disclosed that preparations for the construction of the Tanzania–Burundi section of the SGR are in the final stages, with actual works expected to commence soon. A feasibility study for extending the railway to the DRC is also scheduled for completion by 2026.

Mr Okonge added that CCTTFA is exploring new regional links, including a rail connection between Malawi and Tanzania via the Tazara line, and the development of water-based transport infrastructure on Lake Tanganyika to enhance connectivity between Tanzania and the DRC. Planned upgrades in Kagemi, Kigoma and Karema ports are part of this initiative.

“These strategic projects are gradually shifting the Central Corridor from being just a transport route to a dynamic axis for economic transformation,” he said, citing increasing interest in regional value chains such as electric mobility and green logistics.

Mr Okonge also announced that the agency will begin construction of its new headquarters in Dar es Salaam this September, on land allocated by the government through the National Housing Corporation. President Samia is expected to lay the foundation stone once preliminary works are completed.

“The support we have received from the Tanzanian government reflects its unwavering commitment to regional integration,” Mr Okonge said.

He called on development partners and private investors to take advantage of Tanzania’s growing transport potential through the Central Corridor, noting that the launch of the Kwala Dry Port marks only the beginning of a broader transformation under Tanzania’s stewardship.