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Tanzania unveils new East African Commercial and Logistics Centre

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2025

Centre aims to improve cargo handling at Port of Dar es Salaam, expand export opportunities, and enhance cross-border trade.

Tanzania has opened a new commercial and logistics centre in the country’s largest city, Dar es Salaam, to improve trade infrastructure for countries in the region that rely on the port of Dar es Salaam. 

Government of Tanzania

Photo: Government of Tanzania

The East Africa Commercial and Logistics Centre – locally known as the EACLC – cost around US$110-million to build, spans 75,000 square metres, and has over 2,000 commercial units, as well as warehousing and logistics capacity.  

 

Among its aims is to improve cargo handling and reduce time and costs associated with cross-border trade. Countries that could benefit from the efficiencies include Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and the DRC. 

 

The EACLC will also expand export opportunities for local Tanzanian businesses and small-scale entrepreneurs. 

 

Speaking at official opening event, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania said the EACLC is an opportunity for Tanzania to scale up its competitiveness in the regional and continental trade landscape. 

 

“This facility will be instrumental in promoting exports of locally processed agricultural and other value-added goods,” the President stated. 

 

“When I toured the complex this morning, I was pleased to meet young Tanzanians engaged in value addition for export. It is encouraging to see the youth benefiting from such opportunities.”  

 

She added that Tanzania’s export businesses should uphold the highest standards of quality, given that every product bearing the ‘Made in Tanzania’ mark must reflect the country’s image and reputation. 

 

“Let us not compromise on quality. Every item exported with our country’s label speaks for all of us,” the President emphasised. 

 

Customs clearance time significantly reduced 

 

Tanzania’s government expects that, by concentrating commercial activities in one integrated zone at the EACLC, it can cut customs clearance time from the current seven days to just three. 

 

“This facility positions Tanzania favourably. It will encourage regional players to choose our country as their preferred destination for commercial and logistics services,” the President noted. 

 

The Port of Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s largest and principal port, handling over 90% of the country’s maritime trade. It is a key trade hub for East and Central Africa, serving not only Tanzania but also neighbouring landlocked countries. 

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    Dr Kin Kariisa

    Group CEO - Next Media

    Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
    With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
    Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

    Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

    Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

    • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
    • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
    • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
    • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.