A delegation led by Emmanuel Hategeka, Secretary General of Rwanda Private Sector Federation recently toured the Isaka dry port in Tanzania, with the aim of redeveloping the place to handle transit cargo to and from landlocked countries.

John Bosco Kalisa, director trade and regional integration said an internal container depot (ICD), parking yard, accommodation facilities, motor garages are planned in place.

Developing Isaka dry port, 430kms from Rusomo-Rwanda/Tanzania border is a vote of confidence in the central corridor seen as a shorter route for shipping cargo to and from Rwanda. When developed, goods from Dar es Salaam would be dropped and picked from the dry port by Tanzania Railway Cooperation (TRC). Dar es Salaam is 1,600kms, slightly, shorter distance compared to Mombasa port which is 1700 kilometres from Kigali.

Rwandan traders however asked the Tanzanian government should expedite improving the railway services and facilities along the central corridor to ease moment of cargo.

Poor infrastructure like uncompetitive Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) services at Isaka dry port and poor roads discourage traders to use the corridor. There is hope, however that the recent concession that the Tanzanian government extended to Lites, an India railways firm will see TRC improve its services like buying enough new wagons, locomotives and repairing broken parts of railway line to Isaka dry port.

PSF is wooing businessmen to establish trade facilities like; an ICD, parking yard, accommodation facility, motor garages.

Paul Mubiligi, the chairman of the association of builders and constructors, Francios Rutayisire, the PSF chairman in Southern Province, Aloys Rusagara, the Deputy Director of Magerwa (national bonded warehouse) and the vice president of PSF chamber of commerce and services Lougin Rumongi were part of the delagation.

PSF will soon commission an economic feasibility study on investment options on the Isaka port.

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