Dar es Salaam. Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are moving to deepen their economic ties, with leaders of the two countries agreeing to accelerate transport and trade projects designed to reduce the time and cost of moving goods across their borders.
The agreement was reached on August 18, 2026, in Zanzibar during talks between President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her DRC counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi.
The growing relationship is reflected in trade figures. In 2025, Tanzania exported goods worth 795 billion Tanzanian shillings to the DRC, while imports from the DRC were valued at 24 billion shillings.
But the relationship extends beyond trade in goods. Tanzania has become a strategic gateway for DRC cargo moving towards the Indian Ocean and international markets. The two countries are now seeking to make that corridor more efficient by strengthening railways, roads, ports and water transport.
“Our goal is to make it easier to transport goods between Tanzania and the DRC by improving transport infrastructure and services, reducing time and costs, and in turn increasing trade and investment between our two countries,” President Samia said.
The DRC is already one of the largest users of Tanzanian ports, with about 7.2 million tonnes of cargo handled in 2025, according to a statement from Tanzania’s State House. Tanzania is also improving ports on Lake Tanganyika, increasing the number of vessels and expanding its railway network westwards to facilitate cargo movement to the DRC and other neighbouring countries.
President Samia said Tanzania was ready to expand trade with the DRC, particularly in agriculture, livestock and fisheries.
“We produce agricultural, fisheries and livestock products in large quantities, so we welcome them to do business in these areas as well,” she said.
The two leaders also discussed cooperation in mining, including mineral extraction, value addition, research and marketing. President Samia invited the DRC to join the African Minerals and Geosciences Centre (AMGC), based in Tanzania, to promote research, expertise exchange and investment.
READ MORE: DRC Emerges as Largest Transit Cargo Market for Tanzania Ports
For his part, President Tshisekedi announced that the DRC had begun preparations to construct a dry port in Dar es Salaam to facilitate the handling of Congolese cargo passing through Tanzania. The facility is expected to provide customs, cargo handling, mineral certification and quality-control services.
“We want to make trade between our countries easier. The construction of a dry port in Dar es Salaam will help improve the handling and transportation of DRC cargo passing through Tanzania,” Tshisekedi said.
Transport infrastructure remains central to the plans. The two countries are looking to strengthen the Central Corridor and routes across Lake Tanganyika, while projects involving SGR, TAZARA, roads and water transport could further expand commercial links once completed.
The DRC is also considering expanding Air Tanzania flights to the country, a move Tshisekedi said could boost travel, tourism, trade and people-to-people exchanges.
The talks also covered peace and security, as well as health cooperation, including Tanzania’s readiness to provide specialised medical services and medical camps in the DRC.
The latest agreements give fresh momentum to Tanzania’s role as a gateway for the DRC while positioning the Central Corridor and Lake Tanganyika as important routes for trade, investment and stronger economic ties between the two countries.
