Over 70% of Rwanda’s Imports Pass Through Dar es Salaam Port

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 at the event in Kigali this past week

KIGALI, Rwanda | Tanzania and Rwanda have strengthened their longstanding economic partnership with the signing of two new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), spotlighting the crucial role of the Dar es Salaam Port, which handles over 70% of Rwanda’s imports annually.

The agreements—one on agricultural cooperation and another on the establishment of a Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Liaison Office in Kigali—were signed during the 16th Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) held in Kigali on July 26.

The signatories were 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.

“Over 70% of Rwanda’s cargo passes through the Dar es Salaam Port, making Tanzania a vital trade partner,” said Minister Nduhungirehe.

“The establishment of the TPA Liaison Office in Kigali will improve logistics coordination, reduce delays, and enhance the ease of doing business between our countries.”

Trade statistics from Rwanda’s Ministry of Trade and Industry indicate that annual imports via the Dar es Salaam route were valued at over $650 million in 2024, with key goods including fuel, construction materials, industrial inputs, and food products.

Tanzania is Rwanda’s second-largest import source in the region, after China globally.

Minister Kombo noted that the new MoUs build on a strong foundation of cooperation, including regional infrastructure projects such as the Rusumo Hydropower Project, the One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) at Rusumo, and the proposed Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) linking the two countries.

“These agreements reflect our shared vision for deeper integration and economic transformation. By strengthening logistics, boosting agricultural value chains, and investing in infrastructure, we are laying the groundwork for more resilient and competitive economies,” Kombo said.

The agricultural MoU is expected to enhance collaboration in food security, research, and agribusiness investment, including joint initiatives in irrigation and crop value addition.

The new TPA office will serve as a key link between Kigali-based importers and Tanzanian port authorities, improving real-time cargo tracking and addressing logistical bottlenecks—particularly important for Rwanda, which is landlocked and dependent on neighboring countries for port access.

The JPC concluded with a joint commitment to accelerate implementation of bilateral projects and promote deeper regional cooperation under the East African Community framework