By NATION REPORTER
THE Tanzania Port Authority (TPA) has embarked on a project called Dar-es-Salaam Gateway Project aimed at easing the trade flow in the region.
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The authority operates three major ports along its 1,400-kilometer coastline in addition to others on the island of Zanzibar, which are key for trade with Zambia and other countries in the region.
TPA director of marketing and public relations, George Fasha said the authority was working on its infrastructure to facilitate better trade between the two countries.
Dr Fasha was speaking at the 95th Agricultural and Commercial Show, which ended yesterday.
He said Zambians importing goods via Dar-es-Salaam do not need to travel to Tanzania, but can use services offered by TPA and lessen on the cost and time in their business.
“We are here to bring the services as close to the people as much as possible so that whenever Zambians have challenges, instead of going to Tanzania, they can visit our office here. Zambia is our strategic partner when it comes to trade facilitation, and we are here to tell Zambians that a lot has been done in terms of infrastructure development by the Tanzania Ports Authority. Back home we have a huge project called Der es Salaam Gateway Project, which has come with a lot of improvements in terms of infrastructure,” Dr Fasha said.
Dr Fasha said the TPA was expecting the cargo volume between Zambia and Tanzania to increase.
TPA has liaison offices in six countries in the region, including Zambia.
And Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Zambia, Mathew Mkingule has called for increased trade among African nations in order to ensure the success of the recently launched African Continental Free Trade Area.
Lieutenant General Mkingule said Tanzania decided to participate in the show for the first time because it considers Zambia as a strategic trade partner.
“Yesterday we were talking about linking Zambia to the rest of the world, and here we are to link Zambia to Tanzania and the other parts of the world for imports and exports,” he said.
Lt. Gen. Mkingule said Zambia and Tanzania share an important historical link based on the political liberation, but that now the two countries must pursue their economic aspirations.
He called for promotion of trade between Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states and those in the East African bloc.
“When we talk about the African Continental Free Trade Area, we cannot reach there if we do not start at a regional level,” he said.
Lt. Gen. Mkingule also urged Zambians to visit tourist attractions in Tanzania such as Mount Kilimanjaro and its wildlife.
Air Tanzania, which was recently introduced, operates nine direct flights between Dar-es-Salaam and Lusaka and Ndola.
It has also introduced cargo flights to improve trade.
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