The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania are moving to deepen economic cooperation through a package of proposed transport, trade and digital-connectivity projects that could give Congolese businesses faster access to regional and international markets.

Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Samia Suluhu Hassan agreed to strengthen cooperation along the Central Corridor during talks in Tanzania. The corridor connects eastern DRC to the Indian Ocean through Lake Tanganyika and Tanzania’s transport network.

The discussions identified several priority areas, including improvements to the ports of Kalemie, Kigoma and Dar es Salaam, stronger lake transport, progressive railway interconnection and the deployment of cross-border fibre-optic infrastructure.

The DRC is also preparing plans for a Congolese dry port in Dar es Salaam. If implemented, the facility could provide dedicated cargo-handling, customs and logistics services for goods entering or leaving the DRC through Tanzania.

A second gateway for Congolese trade

For the DRC, the proposed projects could create a stronger eastern route to international markets. Congolese importers and exporters currently face high transport costs, long delivery times and limited logistics options, particularly in the country’s landlocked eastern and southeastern regions.

A more efficient Central Corridor could provide businesses with an alternative connection to the Indian Ocean while strengthening Kalemie’s position as a strategic logistics centre on Lake Tanganyika.

The cooperation is expected to focus on improving connections between Kalemie and Kigoma before goods continue through Tanzania’s road, railway and port networks.

Better infrastructure would not benefit the mining industry alone. Agricultural producers, traders, transport companies and small businesses could also gain from more reliable access to domestic and export markets.