As part of the Global Gateway initiative, the EU in Tanzania is funding the Port of Dar Es Salaam - Trade and Transport Improvement Project (PORTZA), a four years project that started early 2025 coordinated by Enabel, the Belgian cooperation agency, with a team of implementing partners : UN-Habitat, TradeMark Africa and the Port of Antwerp and Bruges International. The project aims to enhance trade efficiency and sustainability, while supporting Tanzania's low-carbon transport system, for both goods and people, and ensuring a more competitive and interconnected regional economy.
By addressing both physical and non-physical barriers to trade, PORTZA focuses on optimizing port operations by addressing operational bottlenecks, enhancing safety and environmental sustainability. It also promotes trade facilitation measures, reducing non-tariff barriers to trade and improving customs procedures. In addition, the initiative supports Tanzania’s transition to a low-carbon transport system, particularly through the promotion of electric mobility.
This project is structured around three key pillars:
- Pillar 1: Port Performance (Port of Antwerp and Bruges International) – Improving efficiency and logistics at the Dar es Salaam Port to support seamless trade flows, address operational bottlenecks and enhance management and technical capacities.
- Pillar 2: Trade Facilitation (TradeMark Africa) – Streamlining customs, clearance processes, and enhance regulatory frameworks to reduce trade costs.
- Pillar 3: E-Mobility (Enabel & UN-Habitat) – Supporting the transition to low-carbon transport systems for a sustainable and eco-friendly future.
The Port of Dar es Salaam is vital to Tanzania’s economy, handling 95% of the country’s international trade and serving as a gateway for neighbour countries such as Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Through its integrated and forward-looking approach, PORTZA aims to unlock the port's full potential for economic growth and to strengthen Tanzania’s role as a key trade actor, ensuring that transport and logistics infrastructure meets modern commerce and global sustainability standards.