Tanzania has launched a search for a private investor to operate and manage one of the country’s first state-of-the-art fishing ports.
The Kilwa Masoko Fishing Harbor officially wrapped up construction in October, and the TZS 281 billion (USD 106.5 million, EUR 94.7 million) project – built by Chinese contractor China Harbor Engineering Company – is designed to handle 60,000 metric tons of fish annually destined for both domestic and international export markets.
The Tanzania Fisheries Corporation (TAFICO) said the new fishing port, located in the Kilwa District of Southeast Tanzania at the mouth of the Kihibwi, Mbwemkuru, and Mavuji rivers, features a 315-meter quay and integrated ship repair yard to support modern fishing fleets, underpinned by “a sophisticated cold chain that utilizes precision controlled thermal technology.”
That cold chain infrastructure, including dedicated cold storage and an ice plant designed “to reduce spoilage and maintain product quality for high-value export markets,” is expected to increase the profitability of the country’s fishery products.
“As a natural coastal harbor with a channel depth of 8 to 10 meters, it is well-suited for deep-sea fishing vessels, and its strategic proximity to major fishing grounds significantly reduces transit times for vessels that previously relied on foreign ports for essential services,” TAFICO said.
TAFICO added that a successful bidder aiming to manage and operate the harbor will oversee a comprehensive seafood value chain under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement. That arrangement will require the winning bidder to supervise landings, maintain advanced storage supported by specialized infrastructure and energy systems, and maintain eco-friendly safeguards to ensure long-term operational sustainability.
“The availability of reliable cold storage, ice, processing areas, and an auction market will attract private investment in fish processing plants, packaging facilities, logistics companies, and other value-added industries, creating a self-sustaining fisheries industrial zone,” it said.
The port is just one of several Chinese-backed fisheries projects carried out in the East African nation.
For instance, recently, Tanzania's Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries announced that through TAFICO, it has signed an agreement with a Chinese company for the construction of three deep-sea fishing vessels under a project financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Chinese firms have also been active in pursuing fisheries projects on the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar for several years.
Elsewhere in Africa, Chinese firms have led infrastructure projects in Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Mauritania, and more locations.
