The Presidential Roundtable in Dar es Salaam gave the Central Corridor, linking Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Dar es Salaam port, the much-needed impetus as regional leaders renewed their commitment to an agreement to improve the infrastructure and facilitate access to the sea for land-locked countries.

The industry and investors’ forum was co-chaired by Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, and discussed action East African Community member states must take to ease the movement of goods by improving the port, road and rail services.

The main nodes of the Corridor are the port of Dar es Salaam, road network, rail and ferry infrastructure, and border crossings at Kobero/Kabanga (Tanzania-Burundi), Rusumo/Isaka (Tanzania-Rwanda) and Mutukula (Tanzania-Uganda).

The Central Corridor is one of the region’s two main transport corridors. The other is the Northern Corridor linking Mombasa port in Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan by road and railway.

Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete promised to minimise, and finally eliminate non-tariff trade barriers to ease trade and to develop the infrastructure at the port and along the Corridor.

The meeting was also attended by Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Pierre Nkuruzinza of Burundi. Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta was represented by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed and DRC’s President Joseph Kabila was represented by Minister for Transport Justin Kalunga Mgwana Ngongo.

To signal its commitment to easing transportation of goods within the Central Corridor, Tanzania has recently launched block trains that transport cargo direct from Dar es Salaam port to borders.

President Nkuruzinza flagged-off the train to Bujumbura while President Kagame saw-off the one to Isaka near the border to Rwanda.

During the forum, Presidents Kikwete and Kagame listened to recommendations from businesses on how to ease trade in the region.
President Kikwete said Tanzania’s commitment to developing infrastructure and reduce the cost of doing business will attract more investments. 

“Although it is costly, but there is no better option. Tanzania will not shy away as it is for the better future of the region,” President Kikwete said.

Design of projects

He said every country had played its part in advancing the Corridor, resulting in the design of 121 projects. He called on private sector players to get involved under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement to construct and run the infrastructure in partnership with governments.

President Kagame expressed hope that the ambitious plans will become a reality. In his remarks, President Museveni challenged governments to “think business” and shun dirty politics, which in turn spoil integration and co-operation. 

“If you sell something there must be a buyer. And If one buys your product you cannot quarrel with him because he will  not buy your product and you will have no one to sell to,” he said.

According to East African Community Secretary General Richard Sezibera, the future of the project was bright as the World Bank had approved $450 million, $20 million of which will be used to build one-stop centres in three automated weighbridges at Vigwaza in coast region, Manyoni in Singida region and Nyakahura in Kagera region.