RWANDA AND TANZANIA SIGN LANDMARK PORT DEAL TO BOOST TRADE EFFICIENCY

Rwanda and Tanzania signed MoU aimed to streamline cargo clearance and cut trade costs via the Port of Dar es Salaam.

Rwanda Tanzania Mou Business Cross-border Global markets Imports Partnership.
Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Hon. Amb. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, and Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe
Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Hon. Amb. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, and Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe



Rwanda and Tanzania have agreed to open a Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) liaison office in Kigali, bringing the Port of Dar es Salaam closer to Rwandan businesses than ever before.

The agreement, signed on Saturday, 26 July, during the 16th Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) in Kigali, is expected to eliminate the long-standing hurdle of cross-border cargo clearance delays. Rwandan importers will now be able to process shipping documentation, track goods, and resolve port-related issues without setting foot in Tanzania.

“This is not just an MoU, it’s a direct investment in efficiency and economic growth,” said Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe. “The Port of Dar es Salaam handles over 70% of our maritime cargo. 

The move is especially significant for Rwanda, a landlocked country that has long relied on the Port of Dar es Salaam as its primary maritime gateway. By cutting down on red tape and physical distance, the liaison office is expected to boost competitiveness for Rwandan businesses and improve access to global markets.

Tanzania’s role as Rwanda’s second-largest source of imports, accounting for 15% of total imports in the past three years, including key staples like rice, adds further weight to the partnership.

Beyond ports, the two nations also inked an agreement on agricultural collaboration, signaling a shared commitment to building resilient, interdependent economies.

The new liaison office represents more than just bureaucratic convenience; it is a symbol of East Africa’s growing push for practical, cross-border cooperation in trade and infrastructure development.

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