Dar es Salaam. Tanzania's business community will benefit greatly from the opening of a new direct shipping route between China and the port of Dar es Salaam by Korea Shipping Corporation (KMTC).
The new service is expected to significantly reduce the time it takes for cargo to arrive from China from six weeks (42 days) to three weeks (21 days), increasing efficiency for Tanzanian businesses.
KMTC’s arrival at Dar es Salaam Port was made possible by the completion of the Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project (DMGP).
The $440.4 million project, funded by a World Bank loan ($345 million), a grant from the UK Department for International Development ($12.4 million), and the Tanzanian government ($63.4 million), will Two berths have been deepened and upgraded, and the entrance has been expanded. At a distance of 8 kilometers he extended the waterway from 10.2 meters to 15.5 meters and widened it from 140 meters to 170 meters.
These improvements have enabled large vessels like KMTC to smoothly access and berth at the port.
Professor Godius Kahiyalala, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, commented at the inauguration ceremony and emphasized the importance of DMGP in attracting business to KMTC.
He said the route was a “huge step” for the port and a “huge opportunity for business prosperity” between Tanzania and the Asian nation.
He further highlighted the increased efficiency of Dar es Salaam Port, which is now operating 24 hours a day to accommodate the increasing number of large vessels.
Looking ahead, Professor Kahyalara is optimistic that the opening of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) will further improve freight transport trends, facilitating faster delivery of goods from ports to final destinations. showed that.
Dar es Salaam Port Director Murisho Murisho echoed similar sentiments, pointing to the recent arrival of several large ships, including an Emirates Shipping ship, as evidence of the port's expanding capacity.
The arrival of KMTC with 1,500 cargo containers marks an important development for Tanzania, which will not only benefit domestic businesses but also serve customers in neighboring landlocked countries.
