Chinese officials in Tanzania over Sh23 trillion Bagamoyo Port project

Dodoma. Officials from China are currently in the country to finalise negotiations for the construction of the $10.2 billion (about Sh23 trillion) Bagamoyo Port, a cabinet minister has said.

Works, Communications and Transport minister, Prof Makame Mbarawa told the Parliament on Monday, June 25, 2018 that the port project remained high on the government’s agenda and that very soon actual construction will start.

“As we are talking, officials from China are in the country to finalise negotiations,” he said.

Prof Mbarawa was one of the government officials who were required to respond to the issues, raised by Members of Parliament (MPs) during the six days of debating the government’s Sh32.5 trillion budget proposal for the financial year 2018/19.

He said the project would be implemented in three phases.

The government says construction of the port – which will be largest in East Africa – would start in 2020.

A port management firm, China Merchants Holdings International (CMHI), and Oman will build the port.

Also to be constructed around Bagamoyo area are over 190 industries, including the manure processing industry that will be put up by the government of Oman.

When fully developed, the Bagamoyo Special Economic Zone will attract about 700 industries to become a strategic investment zone in East Africa.