ZANZIBAR: TANZANIA and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are seeking to deepen trade and investment ties as President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi begins a two-day visit focused on expanding economic cooperation between the two countries.
President Tshisekedi, who is visiting Tanzania at the invitation of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, is expected to hold official talks with her in Zanzibar covering trade and investment, infrastructure, mineral processing, agriculture, energy, transport, health, digital communications, peace and security and regional integration.
According to a statement from State House, the two leaders are also expected to address a joint press conference.
At the heart of the visit is the effort to improve transport links and reduce the cost and time of moving goods between Tanzania and the DRC, a move that could expand business opportunities along the Central Corridor.
The two countries have been working to improve infrastructure linking the DRC to Tanzania’s Indian Ocean gateway. In March, they held their second High-Level Steering Committee Meeting on the Transport Infrastructure Development Programme in Kigoma, following a meeting of joint technical experts.
The committee reviewed progress on developing dry ports, expanding and modernising rail infrastructure, improving maritime transport on Lake Tanganyika, upgrading roads and strengthening air links.
Officials also agreed on measures to speed up implementation and improve coordination between the two countries.
The Central Corridor is a key trade route for the landlocked DRC, connecting it to the Port of Dar es Salaam and providing access to regional and international markets.
During the March meeting, officials visited the Port of Kigoma and Kigoma Airport to assess infrastructure projects and their potential to improve multimodal transport around Lake Tanganyika and along the corridor.
Economists say the growing connectivity could create opportunities beyond transit trade.
Dar es Salaam based economist and investment banker Hildebrand Shayo said Tanzania should use the visit to translate longstanding political ties with the DRC into greater commercial activity.
“During DRC President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi’s state visit to Tanzania, the country has a strong opportunity to convert existing political connections into deeper economic cooperation,” Shayo said.
Tanzania’s position as a gateway to the DRC through Dar es Salaam and its transport networks could attract DRC-related investment in manufacturing, logistics, storage, agro-processing and financial services, he said.
Agriculture could also offer opportunities, including irrigation, mechanisation, seed technology, fertiliser supply and food processing aimed at the DRC market, Shayo said.
Minerals are another potential area for cooperation, particularly in processing and value addition, rather than simply transporting raw materials, he said.
He also identified gas, electricity and renewable energy as potential areas of cooperation that could support industrial development in both countries.
Improved roads, railways, ports and logistics would strengthen Tanzania’s position as an Indian Ocean gateway for the DRC, Shayo said.
Dr Innocent Shoo, a lecturer at the Dr Salim Ahmed Salim Centre for Foreign Relations, said the visit could strengthen the strategic relationship between Dar es Salaam and Kinshasa while increasing the DRC’s access to the Port of Dar es Salaam and the Central Corridor.
Tanzania could benefit from higher cargo volumes, logistics activity and trade, while areas such as dry ports, railways, Lake Tanganyika transport, manufacturing and mineral processing could provide opportunities for joint investment, Shoo said.
But he said the impact of the visit would ultimately be measured by practical improvements for traders.
“For the ordinary trader, the success of the visit will be seen if the agreements reduce the cost and time of transporting goods, simplify customs procedures and open new markets between Tanzania and the DRC,” said Dr Shoo.
He also called for stronger cooperation on security, including information sharing, combating cross-border crime and smuggling, and supporting efforts to improve peace in eastern DRC.
President Tshisekedi’s visit is his third to Tanzania, following trips in 2019 and 2022 that helped strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, port use, trade and investment.
The latest visit comes as both countries seek to build on those ties and improve the infrastructure needed to turn rising connectivity into greater trade, investment and value addition.
For Tanzania, the opportunity extends beyond handling more transit cargo: a more integrated corridor could help connect local manufacturers, farmers, logistics companies and service providers to one of Africa’s largest markets.