CCTTFA - Newsletter

Issue: Q1 2013

CENTRAL CORRIDOR NEWSLETTER

The Central Corridor TTFA news letter is free and those interested in receiving the monthly update are invited to register by simply sending an email with their full name, job title and email address to Emmanuel Rutagengwa at emmanuelr@centralcorridor-ttfa.org/ We also welcome your comments, queries and any suggestions on how we can further improve the newsletter.

INSIDE • BACKGROUND OF THE TTFA • CENTRAL CORRIDOR TRANSIT TRANSPORT FACILITATION AGENCY ACTIVITIES • INDUSTRY NEWS • INDUSTRY EVENTS

Introduction from Executive Secretary The Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (TTFA) is proud to share with you the first issue of our newsletter. Although we are a young institution, it is this youth that has allowed us to be efficient, engaged and energetic in our endeavours. We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you, as a key stakeholder in our organisation, to engage in what we hope will be a mutually beneficial and informative relationship. The purpose of this newsletter is to build a foundation of two-way communications between the TTFA and its stakeholders. To this end, I would like to encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas with us.

Mrs. Rukia Shamte

CENTRAL CORRIDOR BACKGROUND The

Central

Corridor

Transit

Transport Facilitation Agency (TTFA) is

a

cooperation

established

in

2006 by the five member states of Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. The TTFA’s fundamental objective is to facilitate the efficient movement of goods along the Central Corridor, which is the collection of transport routes (rail, road and lakes) westwards from the Port of Dar es Salaam.

Through co-operation amongst its private and public sector stakeholders, the TTFA works to promote transport utilisation of the Central Corridor, encourage

the

maintenance,

upgrading,

improvement

and

development of infrastructure and support service facilities at port, rail, lake, and road border posts along the route to meet user requirements, ensuring open communication and

UGANDA: From landlocked to landlinked through the Central Corridor On January 25 2013, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Uganda was signed at the Ministry of Transport, Dar es Salaam. The Tanzanian delegation was led by the Minister for Transport, Hon. Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe, and its Ugandan peers were led by Hon. Maria Kiwanuka, Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

The MOU is a testament to the commitment shared by the two governments to promote positive relations and effective cooperation between Tanzania and Uganda. One way to do this is by facilitating trade through the smooth and rapid movement of goods originating from, or destined for, Uganda through the Central Corridor to Dar es Salaam port.

The Central Corridor TTFA recognizes and appreciates the determination of the two governments to develop and maintain a coordinated and mutually beneficial system of transport and communication through the Central Corridor. The TTFA is aware of Uganda’s growing imports and exports, which are currently estimated at 3.5 million tons per year, and is looking forward to providing costefficient and reliable services through the Central Corridor.

Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency activities

reducing costs of transit transport for landlocked member states.

The Central Corridor offers one border crossing between the transit country of Tanzania and the landlocked member states. The TTFA is committed to ensuring that the Central Corridor’s short

physical

distance

between

Tanzania and the landlocked member states is translated into an even shorter “economic distance”. As a direct result of the Central Corridor TTFA’s work, road blocks along the route have decreased by 70% in the

CENTRAL CORRIDOR

TRANSIT TRANSPORT FACILITATION AGENCY Central Corridor TTFA’s new logo The Central Corridor TTFA has a new look! The new logo is an innovative, dynamic and streamlined representation of the Central Corridor as a product and the TTFA as an organisation. Look forward to seeing the logo on all official TTFA communications documents and materials!

Central Corridor informational campaign The Central Corridor TTFA is pleased to announce the launch of the organisation’s new media information campaign, featuring its new logo.

The campaign aims to increase awareness of the Central Corridor to its key stakeholders, encouraging increased usage of the route.

last three years. Coupled with the fact that Tanzania has the best road network in Tanzania, it is no wonder why the Central Corridor is fast becoming the route of choice within the region.

Central Corridor documentary – “Corridor of Choice” In keeping with Central Corridor TTFA’s commitment to increasing and improving communication between itself and its stakeholders, the organisation is producing a Central Corridor documentary. The documentary seeks to highlight the benefits of the Central Corridor and focus on the key milestones that have been achieved. “Corridor of Choice” will premier in May 2013.

Industry NEWS

Industry news and updates from third party sources. For more on the article, please follow the link located below each summary.

Rail rehabilitation will boost Dar port

Transport ministers discuss Isaka-KigaliMusongati rail project study

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has chosen to use the Port of Dar es Salaam to handle its shipments of relief supplied to landlocked countries in the region. The WFP will now use the port to clear consignments of food destined for East and Central African countries, with reports that a WFP ship with a food consignment of 10,000 tonnes would be docking at the port every two week. The agency will be using the port to transport the cargo to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and Zambia. http://www.ippmedia. com/frontend/index.php?l=51495

php?l=50027

Xi set to unveil $10 billion Tanzania port project

CEOs want action on infrastructure

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to unveil a big port project in Tanzania during his first visit to Africa as head of state, highlighting China’s growing infrastructure investments in the resource-rich continent. The port will be linked to a special industrial zone and will function as a trade hub linking Asia and East Africa. http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/ a2bc930e-9517-11e2-a4fa-00144feabdc0.html

TradeMark aids freight firms

TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) has signed a grant worth $495,980 with the Federation of East Africa Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFE) to improve logistics challenges in the region. FEAFFA President, Mathew Bizimana, said that high logistics costs and low levels of service provision are currently plaguing the East African region. The grant is expected to contribute towards the reduction of delays of cargo clearance and transit. http://allafrica.com/stories/201302261488.html

DR Congo, Tanzania launch project on flow of transit goods

Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo have launched an ambitious project to address the challenges of strengthening the smooth flow of transit goods to and from the Dar es Salaam port. The ultimate goal is to combat all types of fraud, which include smuggling and dumping, and to promote custom cooperation and secure transit goods. http:// www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=52201

Burundi tops East African Revenue Performance

According to the World Bank’s “Doing Business Report 2012”, Burundi’s overall gross revenue mobilization for the month of January 2013 was an impressive 103%. It was the highest in the region, followed closely by Rwanda at 101.5%. Tanzania performed at 99.6%, Uganda at 96.5% and Kenya at 91%. http://allafrica.com/stories/201302261384.html

Uganda to build inland port to reduce reliance on Kenya

Uganda plans to build an inland port along the shores of Lake Victoria near its capital, Kampala, to reduce its “neartotal” dependence on Kenya’s Mombasa Port. The port will take three years to build at a cost of about $180 million, said Cypriano Okello, Project Coordinator at the Ministry of Works and Transport. Uganda’s government says it is making strategic plans to avoid disruptions, partly by using road routes through Tanzania. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/02/12/ uk-uganda-port-idUKBRE91B0NY20130212

Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi have reiterated their political will and commitment to hasten the proposed IsakaKigali-Musongati railway line construction project. The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) have assisted in the completion of the feasibility studies for the construction of the new lines as well as the upgrading of the Port of Dar es Salaam. http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.

The East African Business Council (EABC) says the East African Community must harmonize infrastructure to fully reap the benefits from the Customs Union and common market agreements This was one of the recommendations of the recent regional EAC Secretary General-CEO forum in Kampala. The forum also discussed ways of reducing costs of doing business in the region. http://allafrica.com/ stories/201303060176.html

Poor infrastructure hinders integration

Efforts towards regional integration in East Africa have been seriously hindered by poor infrastructure. This has resulted into some of the programs towards full integration being delayed. According to the Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Richard Sezibera, member countries have made great strides towards the free movement of goods and services, but not much has been achieved due to a poor transport network linking the countries. http://allafrica. com/stories/201302261392.html

Africa offers greatest freight, shipping growth potential

While beleaguered by inadequate infrastructure and complex customs regulations, Africa’s emerging economy offered the greatest potential for growth and expansion in the freight and shipping market, said DHL Europe, the Middle East and Africa Global Forwarding CEO, Thomas Nieszner. “Although the emerging markets of China and India will continue to present good economics, we believe Africa is the continent that will be the company’s growth engine”. http://www.engineeringnews. co.za/article/africa-offers-greatest-freight-shipping-growthpotential-dhl-2013-03-06

Ugandan firms to pursue claim for poll violence at EAC

Rwandese and Ugandan firms have stepped up their bid for compensation from the Kenyan government over business losses arising from the post-election violence five years ago.

The traders from the two landlocked countries had lodged claims for billions of shillings under the United Nations Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights that compels states to guarantee security of goods transiting through their countries. Uganda traders said they incurred losses of up to $47 million. http://www.businessdailyafrica. com/Uganda-firms-take-Sh4bn-election-chaos-claim-toEAC-/-/539546/1712512/-/cve9e4/-/index.html

Industry events

CENTRAL CORRIDOR TRANSIT TRANSPORT FACILITATION AGENCY

Region Africa and Middle East (RAME) Conference 19 – 20 June 2013 – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania The Tanzania Freight Forwarders Association (TAFFA) has won the bid to host the FIATA Region Africa and Middle East (RAME) Conference. This event is an opportunity for organisations and individuals with interests in freight forwarding.

This is includes but is not limited to forwarders, insurers, service providers and trade officials. This event is essential for businesses in the East African region, at a time when governments are encouraging trade in the region, continent and beyond. http://www.taffa.or.tz/index.php/79-taffa-data-articles/habari/74-rame-bid World Economic Forum on Africa 08 – 10 May 2013 – Cape Town, South Africa Africa continues to make remarkable progress. This positive momentum can be attributed to stable macroeconomic reforms and rising trade with other regional and emerging economies. Most government have contributed dramatically to this progress by increasing their investment in strengthening basic infrastructure and striving towards achieving the 2015 Millennium Development Goals. In order to deliver Africa’s promise, emerging leader in the public and private sectors need to renew commitment to maintain the momentum of political and economic reforms, deepen regional integration processes and mobilize domestic resources. http://africanbusinessmagazine.com/eventdetail/111/79/world-economicforum-on-africa-2013 3rd Corporate Africa G20 Africa Infrastructure Investment Conference 2013 17 – 19 July 2013 – London, UK The Corporate Africa G20 Africa Infrastructure Investment Conference will look at investments and project finance to bridge gaps in primary infrastructure across Africa’s regional economic communities. The event will also bring key investors from economies with strong specialization in areas of infrastructure targeted for investment funds by the African Development Bank across Africa. http://www.corporate-africa.com/Conference.html

Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency 4th floor, Posta House Ghana Avenue PO Box 2372 Dar es Salaam - Tanzania