GERMAN car manufacturing giant, Volkswagen, has expressed interest in using the port of Dar es Salaam to transport vehicles and spare parts, citing satisfaction with its operations and substantial investments made to enhance the port as a major East African gateway.

Martina Biene, president of Volkswagen (Africa) and concurrently president of the African Association of Automobile Manufacturers (AAAM), made this observation after visiting the port and touring the vehicle storage area for incoming shipments.

She explained the visit as meant to assess the port’s operations and investments as part of exploring potential collaboration, noting that the company was impressed with the improvements made.

She pointed at infrastructure upgrades which make this port attractive for cargo transportation, particularly vehicles, affirming that the revamped port was likely to play a crucial role in Africa’s economic growth, serving as a trade hub for numerous countries across the region.

"As global manufacturers of vehicles and spare parts, including in Africa, we view this port as a significant catalyst for business on the continent," she stated, accompanied by the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) director general Plasduce Mbossa. 

Volkswagen has been collaborating with the Tanzanian government via o its transport, construction and infrastructure agencies to enhance policy advocacy to promote better business practices.

"The port of Dar es Salaam is essential for Southern Africa’s economic growth, and through our Africa division we see it as a key commercial hub," she further noted.

Abeid Gallusi, the port acting director, said that business visit was intended to assess the port's readiness for handling vehicle and spare part shipments. 

He asserted that the German firm’s delegation was impressed by the ongoing infrastructure improvements and service efficiency, as vessel service time has been cut from 30 days to just  seven days upon arrival.

State of the art security and protection equipment have been installed at the port to prevent vehicle part theft, providing customers with greater confidence and satisfaction.

"In sum, our guests are satisfied, and we look forward to future collaborations with them," he declared, while Arun George, the DP World (T) chief commercial officer, noted that infrastructure improvements are ongoing across various departments, including cargo unloading, to enhance efficiency. 

This investment has restored confidence among traders, many of whom had previously opted for neighboring ports but are now returning to Dar es Salaam for various cargo, including copper minerals for export, he said.

The port handles 16,000 vehicles per month, including small cars, trucks and buses primarily from Japan, which are processed quickly to reach customers, including those in neighboring countries like the DRC, Zambia, Malawi and Burundi, he added.